Suden News

Eagles, Crows and Other Stuff

2012-01-21T13:18:00.004-06:00

We celebrated birthdays yesterday. Both Mom and Dad were born on January 20 a few decades ago. We picked up pizza and partied at their house with plenty of food and played Tripoley. Lynn didn't make the birthday party, because he was in southern Missouri for a wedding. His wedding! He and Karen were married at 5 PM and called a little after 6PM to say happy birthday to Mom and Dad.

This morning I looked out the window and saw literally hundreds of crows walking all over the pasture just south of our barn. Along with all those crows was one bald eagle watching the crows from the top of the sycamore tree.

From the distance, he appeared to be rather like Zacheous, a wee little eagle, but only because he was so far away. I took pictures through the windows mostly because if I went out, they'd have all flown away, but also because I didn't really want to bundle up and go out just yet.

New News

2012-01-15T17:38:00.003-06:00

Since early December, I've been working at school as a One on One Associate. I'm enjoying the experience and I'm learning (or relearning) some things that I probably should have remembered from my high school days. I still drive the bus route, which means I'm gone all day. Dennis is doing a good job of taking care of everything at home. He now does all his work as well as much of mine.
It's been a wonderfully mild winter so far. We've had very few really cold days, and very little snow. We've had none of the ice like the past two winters yet, and I hope we can skip that altogether!
Our preacher started a new sermon series at the beginning of the year which he's calling "Fresh Starts". I'm not sure it would be quite right to say we've enjoyed the sermons, but we're finding them quite convicting. In addition to the excellent preaching at church, I just finished reading a book by Kyle Idleman, "Not A Fan". I highly recommend it if you've not read it. Currently I'm reading Francis Chan's "Crazy Love".
This weekend begins the annual "Bald Eagle Appreciation Days" in Keokuk. They'll have a live bird show, Indian "Pow-Wow" events, lots of interesting displays and certainly many opportunities for eagle viewing. In the past, I've taken the third grade classes to Keokuk for the day and seen the bird shows. I've always enjoyed it, but this year will not be driving the bus since I am no longer available for day trips. Maybe we'll get there on Saturday.

Monday Morning

2011-12-05T06:22:00.003-06:00

Wow! What a weekend! Friday night we helped celebrate Zach's birthday. Saturday morning, we were off to Ottumwa for a full day of science fair activities. Zach's team competed with the Lego robot they built, presented a skit and were interviewed by the judges. There were many schools represented and his team won the research award. Way to go, Central! Saturday night we played poker. Sunday afternoon was spent racing through the Quincy mall. Shopping is not really an activity I like to do, yet with Christmas just three weeks away, it must be done. Of course, going with the kids, I didn't really get any shopping done, but I did get some good ideas for when I go alone. The boys made out like bandits. Zach found a new coat, Wyatt new shoes, and numerous other things. Mostly, the boys and I raced up and down the escalators and played games.
Today will be my first "official" day on the job. I was offered the position at school and accepted.

November 29...Already!

2011-11-29T06:26:00.002-06:00

How can it be? Mom always told us that the older you get the faster time passes...or at least it seems so. As usual, Mother is right! She's been right for as long as I can remember, but in my youthful days I didn't always recognize that fact. I am very thankful today for Mom and Dad! They have always been, and continue to be a beautiful demonstration of God's love for His children. They provided for all my needs....and more (more than I could think or ask), including guidance, love, support, encouragement, food, clothing, shelter, work, luxuries, and discipline. I have the best parents on earth.
I'd go on, but it's time to get ready for school.
I'm planning to blog more frequently. Facebook is okay, but blogging allows me to express myself in a bigger way...and it's really more fun for me. I'm not sure anyone will ever read my posts here, but it really doesn't matter. I enjoy "writing".

October Update

2011-10-09T23:09:00.005-05:00

Since taking possession of the newly acquired property, we've spent just about all our time working on the place. It's looking better every day. We've demolished the old mobile home and are working on demolition of the other trailer. Over the weekend, we painted the interior walls and ceiling in the "rec building". What a difference! Thanks to Kathy! She painted eight hours on Saturday, and came back Sunday afternoon to paint the second coat! The boys were also helpful.
The harvest is coming along fairly well. Yields are well below normal, due to the extremely dry summer. It's still very dry here. In spite of that, the fall foliage has been positively gorgeous.

The ponds are at very low levels, and the big creek is nearly dried up, but for some reason, our little stream is still flowing. Wyatt has learned ride the Warrior. These past couple of weeks we've put a lot of miles on poor old Rusty. He hasn't yet figured out that if he'd just wait in the shade, we'd be right back. He follows us where ever we go.

In September, I attended the National Quartet Convention in Louisville. It was very inspirational and I enjoyed it very much even though I went alone. Bobbie was unable to go this year. A few of the highlights were the Gaither Vocal Band reunion, Mosie Lister's 90th birthday, Song of a Lifetime showcase, and of course, the Main Stage events each evening.

Hot August Newsflash!

2011-08-29T09:33:00.003-05:00

Jake's truck caught on fire and burned up! From the inside out! He'd parked and gone in the house. The neighbor later saw the truck on fire and called 911. Jake, being in the basement, heard nothing! Same neighbor called Amy, who then called Jake, and by the time he went out to check the blaze was nearly extinguished. Unfortunate loss of his truck, but so thankful that no one was hurt, and also that the flames didn't reach the house and cause damage there as well! Not yet sure what caused the fire. WOW!

SOT Kayaks = FUN

2011-08-24T21:39:00.005-05:00

I love the way the color is reflected on the water in this photo.

The boys came over after school this evening to try out the SOT (sit on top) kayaks on our small pond. They're fun and safe. If you tip over, you fall off instead of being trapped in the cockpit. The water was refreshing after a very hot day at school. While paddling around, the boys spotted a big bullfrog. On closer inspection, the frog was being swallowed by a big water snake! Frog couldn't hop because Snake had Frog's feet in his mouth. We caught (and killed) the snake, and the frog hopped into the water and disappeared. That makes three snake encounters in the past two days! YUCK!
We're hoping to close soon on the property we bought in June. We're eager to take possession and start cleaning up. There will be MUCH to do! Watch for pictures and progress reports here.
We had so much rain in June we thought it would never stop. But, it stopped! I think we have gone about 5 or 6 weeks with no measurable precipitation. Everything around here is dried up, brown and withered. Sad for area farmers!
We celebrated our 40th anniversary last week. I also attended my 40th class reunion. WOW! Dennis has a birthday coming up soon, and we're be celebrating at the Keokuk Aquatic Center.
School is back in session and I'm again driving the bus. Not much change in my route this year.
That's it for this time!

Two Hundred Posts!

2011-08-16T23:14:00.002-05:00

According to the "dashboard" stats, this is my 200th post.

I'll try to catch up with the happenings around here since my last post back in May.
JUNE: School dismissed for the summer, to resume on August 23. I'm not sure, but I think it rained almost every day. We had record amounts on several occasions. I had two students in the summer school program at Mar's One Room Schoolhouse (MORS). We learned about the importance of character qualities such as self-control, patience, discretion, truthfulness, humility and tolerance. We enjoyed a number of field trips. We went on a tour of the Heartland Dairy, sampled the cheeses made there, ate lunch at the Solid Rock Cafe. We especially enjoyed seeing and petting the baby goats, even though they almost ate Wyatt's hat! We also visited Oakland Mills Nature Center. Zach and Wyatt entertained us with a puppet show. We hiked across the swinging bridge, saw a live bobcat, and especially liked the glass beehive. We enjoyed a Burlington Bees baseball game, swimming, exploring in Sugar Creek, and closed the summer school session with a bus trip to St. Louis for a Cardinals vs. Cubs game. We got to see Albert Pujols his his 2000th career hit. In addition to our summer school program, we attended many little league baseball games. Both Wyatt and Zach had very successful seasons with their respective teams. Zach went on to play with the "traveling" team, but missed two weeks due to a fractured finger. On June 27th, we were the winning bid on the former Sugar Valley Campground property. Closing was scheduled to be on or before August 1.
JULY: Much the same as June, but the rain stopped! Once it quit raining, we really dried up and got very hot and humid. Lots of baseball games and summer school classes. Mowing grass and spraying weeds took most of my "free" time. Our refrigerator quit, so we did a little shopping around and found our best deal to be right in downtown Keokuk. The closing on the new property was delayed. Since it wasn't happening as scheduled, I went to Wisconsin (Camp Forest Springs) for a few days.
AUGUST: We're still waiting to close and get possession of the new property...as of August 16. I'm still hopeful that we can close before school starts on the 23rd. It's so dry that we have no grass to mow and have been feeding the cows hay already because the pasture is burned up. The creek is just a trickle and the water is warm. I've noticed that the days are noticeably shorter, and have seen some leaves already turning color. Summer is winding down and it will soon be fall.
Some of the things I've forgotten to mention: So far, three parties at the Keokuk Aquatic Center, and still one to go. Our 40th anniversary. My 40th class reunion. Fine dining at the Hotel Nauvoo. Sweetcorn! I actually lost count of how much we put in the freezers, but I do know that we won't go hungry this winter. Family reunions....one with Dad's side, and one with Mom's. And much, much more!
Summer seems to have gone by pretty fast, but it's been a great summer. I love summer.

It's Been Forty Years!

2011-08-15T09:01:00.003-05:00

Yes! Forty years since I graduated at Keokuk High School, and on Saturday, it will be forty years ago that Dennis and I were married. Wow! How can it be so? I attended my class reunion Friday evening and totally enjoyed seeing many people I'd not seen since high school. It was such a nice time, I've decided that I will plan to attend any and all future reunions.
Pictured below: Anita (Cannon) Hood, Gail (Galbreath) Lewis, me, Connie (Howes) Mann and Ruth Lawson.

Eggs Hatched!

2011-05-06T09:36:00.005-05:00

We have babies. Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal are very busy filling the mouths of their young. The photos are a little blurry. Hope to get some better ones in the days to come. Watch for updates.

Update: May 10
Cardinal babies are growing. Their eyes are open!

Workin' In The Rain....

2011-04-25T14:01:00.009-05:00

Update: Finished the Hutch. Bugs is enjoying his spacious quarters.

Gettin' soakin' wet! Makes me want to sing. It's another rainy day, but the temperature is in the mid-fifties, so not all that unpleasant. It's a really soft, gentle rain. I can see the grass growing and the colors everywhere getting more and more green.

We started building a larger pen for Bugs Bunny on Saturday. Worked on it again today, but after getting pretty well soaked, we decided to finish it another day. It will be about 21 square feet of space, much more spacious than his current lodging. Bugs will just have to put up with his crowded quarters a little longer. The photo here was taken Saturday when we were just getting started. It was too wet to take the camera out today for a picture of our progress.

While the boys were looking for mushrooms, I stayed in the short grass. I like to avoid any potential snake encounters. I did see some nice frogs around the pond.

I did take a couple pictures again from the windows looking out. Everything looked so fresh and pretty. I especially enjoyed the red berries on the bayberry shrubs. They make a nice contrast to all the green. I also noticed we have two homesteaders in the bayberry bushes. One is a cardinal's nest and she's sitting on eggs. The other appears to be a robin's nest. We'll have fun watching their young hatch and grow. Just another wonderful day at our place! We're so blessed!

Spring Beauty....

2011-04-19T13:02:00.013-05:00

Each window provides a view of loveliness! Days like today, it seems all I get done is walk from one window to another just looking out. We've had over an inch and one half of rain since we went to bed last night, with more coming. The temperature is holding around 40 degrees. Just not a day I care to spend outdoors!
Enjoy the view with me:

I love living here! We are indeed blessed beyond measure.

Since February...

2011-04-15T09:53:00.009-05:00

We've enclosed our west deck and turned it into a four season "sun-room". Prior to that, the deck was practically useless. It was too hot to enjoy sitting outdoors most of the summer. The mosquitoes were to pesky to enjoy evenings on the deck. Of course, it was too cold to use in winter, and if it was raining...or snowing.... well, you get the idea. We love the new room!

We celebrated Mom and Dad's 65th anniversary on March 20. It was a beautiful day, and we grilled chicken and riblets. Almost all of our family was able to be there to help celebrate. Everyone brought a dish, and it was just a very nice day.
Dennis has kept busy hauling for us and a lot of other people. He's added several layers to our lane, so it's in pretty good shape. It should hold up well through the spring rains. We certainly hope we don't get rains like we did last year! It's actually raining here at this moment.
Farmers in the area have been busy too. Some already have their corn planted. Travis has been getting equipment ready and preparing fields, but as yet has nothing planted. It's still plenty early.
I've already mowed our lawn twice, and it's only April 15! We've also been battling the weeds. They must have grown under that blanket of snow. We certainly had a healthy crop...but they're not looking so healthy now. Hurray for herbicides!

I put out four new bluebird boxes, and am seeing bluebirds just outside the window as I type. I hope they're moving into one of the new houses. We enjoy all the birds, but are especially fond of bluebirds.

Most recent "news": We have babies! Bunnies. Yesterday I brought two bunnies home. We set up the bunny pen, complete with water bottles and food. Our dog was so excited! He really likes them...in fact, he really wants to eat them! We'll have to be very careful when the kids come to pet the bunnies. Rusty would have them in a heartbeat if given the chance.
Pictured is Wyatt with one of the CFS bunnies. I have not yet taken pictures of ours, but you'll see them soon!

Added Saturday, April 16th. Here is a picture of our bunnies. We're still working on names for them.

Summer plans include some form of "summer school" at Mar's One Room Schoolhouse, several short trips, Cardinal baseball, Camp Forest Springs, lots of home projects....mostly clean up stuff, and Little League games.
And, of course, blogging.....

Groundhog Day!

2011-02-02T22:24:00.012-06:00

We spent a good part of the day digging out from the "blizzard of 2011". According to the local newspaper, we had 20" of snow. The county road crew is plowing through drifts as high as 7 feet! It's certainly beautiful. School was called off again for tomorrow. In fact, nearly everything in the whole area was canceled. Even some of the factories told their employees not to come to work. The news says that this storm was worse than the blizzard of '79. I believe this was the first time since we've lived here that we were unable to get out. Travis came down in his backhoe and got our lane opened up.
Even so, Punxsutawney Phil didn't see his shadow, so spring is coming soon! I took just a few pictures today.

Dennis put out a new bale for the cows:

And, as usual, we had lots of activity at the bird feeders.

I'm a Bird Watcher...

2011-01-18T12:23:00.004-06:00

and the birds are flocking to our feeders today.

We had sleet and freezing rain yesterday, and a little rain during the night. The temperature was 32* this morning and has been steadily falling with light snow. I'm very content to stay inside and look out the windows.

Winter Wonderland!

2011-01-07T10:43:00.005-06:00

Why do we hear the "winter" songs only at Christmas time? They're seasonal songs, but they are not Christmas songs. Yet, once Christmas is past, you don't hear these songs played on the radio again until the next Christmas.

Today snow is falling and it's simply beautiful! The pictures don't do it justice. The falling snow doesn't show up well in the photo, but even so, it's pretty. It's still snowing, and now the wind is picking up, shaking the snow out of the trees. It's starting to look more cold than romantic!

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?
In the lane, snow is glistening.
A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight
Walking in a winter wonderland.

Gone away is the bluebird.
Here to stay is the new bird.
He sings a love song, as we go along
Walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman.
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown.
He'll say, "Are you married?" We'll say, "No, man!"
"But you can do the job when you're in town."

Later on, we'll conspire
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid the plans that we've made
Walking in a winter wonderland.

When it snows, ain't it thrilling?
Though your nose gets a chilling.
We'll frolic and play the Eskimo way
Walking in a winter wonderland!
---Felix Bernard and Richard Smith

Yep...that's definitely a "Winter" song, and should get played at least through February! If I were a radio DJ, you can bet I'd be playing it on days like today.

Blessed Beyond Measure!

2010-12-06T12:12:00.002-06:00

Truly, we are!
How thankful I am for my home! We saw several "homeless" folks in Chicago.
I'm thankful for my coat! We saw one who appeared to be wearing her entire wardrobe just to keep warm.
I'm thankful for laundry! It was quite obvious that some folks haven't the resources to wash their clothes.
I'm thankful that we have family who also happen to be friends.
I'm thankful for our jobs. Not everyone has one!
I'm thankful for our quiet (for the most part) rural lifestyle.
I'm thankful for more than enough to eat. Millions around the world are hungry!
I'm thankful for all we have, but most of all ---
I am thankful for God's gift, Jesus Christ....

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy
Would someday walk on water?
Mary did you know
That your baby boy
Will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy
Has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered
Will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know
That your baby boy
Will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know
That your baby boy
Will calm the storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy
Has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby
You've kissed the face of God.
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
The dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb

Mary did you know
That your baby boy
Is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know
That your baby boy
Will one day rule the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy
Is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding

Is the Great I Am

-Mark Lowry

Since the Last Entry....

2010-11-15T17:43:00.002-06:00

We've been very busy! It's been a beautiful fall. I don't know where to begin telling what we've been doing or where we've been since September. I guess the best way to update is by listing a few of the highlights....

Almost every Sunday evening we get together with Rockholds, Mickelsons, and Travis and Gail, for fun and games....and usually some good food as well. It's always fun, with many laughs.

Dad had his second knee replacement in mid-October. He had a rough go for a few weeks, but thankfully, seems to be improving every day.

Zach and I have been practicing with the Nauvoo Orchestra for a Christmas Concert December 2. It's been challenging, and fun for me....not sure Zach would describe it as fun. We're playing clarinets.

Wyatt started violin lessons about 5 weeks ago. We go to Nauvoo every Wednesday after school for his weekly lesson. He is learning a lot, and in such a short time! We believe he has talent!

Harvest was very quick, since many fields were under water most of the summer. We're thankful for for a safe harvest, and no breakdowns!

The calves are growing. Coffee Bean, our "Jergus" (jersey angus cross) has yet to calf. We're not sure when to expect that one, so we'll just keep watching and waiting.

I'm changing bus routes. I bid on a route that is almost entirely on paved roads, and won. The route I've been driving for the past few years is almost all gravel roads, which makes keeping the bus clean nearly impossible! I will miss a lot of the kids that I've come to know, but I sure won't miss the dust!

Enjoyed seeing (and hearing) the Lesters at Crossview in Keokuk last week.

Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away! We'll be enjoying turkey and all the trimmings with family at the Bonney home. Looking forward to that!

Still to come: Candlelight Carols at Moody, Dinner Theater at CFS, Circle 8, the Lesters and Chosen Ones at Quincy for my birthday!

I could go on, but should start thinking about what a tired and hungry man might like for supper.

I just wonder.....does anyone actually read this blog?

NQC 2010 ....

2010-09-18T23:18:00.003-05:00

It's over! Already have our reservations and tickets for the 2011 NQC. Highlights later!

Monday morning..... and remembering some of the great things about NQC.

Acappella! It seemed to be a popular trend this year, and we loved it!
Booth Brothers...... there are a number of groups that could be mentioned here, but the Booth Brothers are one of our very favorites. Should also mention a new group Benton & Company. Very impressive.
Collingsworth Family! What incredible talent. Should you ever have the opportunity to see them, don't miss it! And the Crist Family....we saw them first in the Ozarks when they were just getting started.
Dennis "Swan" Swanberg..... a really funny guy!
Excellence...... extraordinary.
Freedom Hall.
Groups...... great groups like Greater Vision, Gaither Vocal Band, Gold City, Greenes and more.
Harmony! There's just nothing better than four part harmony from groups like Hoppers, HisSong, and others!
Isaacs! Again....incredible. We love the Isaacs!
Jeff & Sheri Easter. Always a favorite, and again, no disappointment!
Karen Peck and New River, Kingsmen, Kingdom Heirs, King's Herald....
LES (Beasley and Butler) They're everywhere! Of course, we can't omit Legacy Five!
Midnight Cry by the "old" Gold...... with Ivan Parker and Brian Free. And Michael English singing with the "old" Singing Americans!
Nalley House. Fine food, great service, reasonable prices. Also have to mentions the Nelons! Although they didn't sing "Walk Right Out of This Valley" we were thrilled to hear them again!
Ovations. Nearly every performance earned a standing ovation..... That's a lot of noise from more than 50,000 people. Naturally, we did our part.
Piano players! We've determined that every group has an amazing pianist! My, oh my! Kim Collingsworth, Tim Parton, Jeff Stice, Gordon Mote, to name just a few. Also, a new-to-us group we really enjoyed.... Pine Mountain Railroad! We expect to hear more from them.
Quartets. Need I say more?
Rambo family. It was almost like having Dottie back! A nice tribute to Dottie Rambo.
Sarah Palin. Patriotic, practical, and positively uplifting and encouraging. Also, we again enjoyed the little time we spent in our very comfortable rooms at Springhill Suites, just across the street from Freedom Hall.
Talleys, Triumphant, Tiranda Greene,
Uplifting, inspiring, moving, touching...... such is the norm for Southern Gospel Music. That's why we love it so much!
Vendors. Ehrler's Ice Cream-a local product and must have treat! Peach is the best! Then there's the Kentucky Grind coffee shop. We also love to peruse the exhibit booths of all the groups and businesses. This year, I purchased several CD's, but we're usually just "window" shoppers.
Whisnants, another group I've enjoyed over several years.
Xtraordinary event, extraordinary performances, extraordinary people and talent!
Yes! Yes, yes, yes.....we are going again. In fact, we have permanent tickets.....meaning that we have the same reserved seats year after year, for as long as we wish. So, yes..... we're planning to be there Sept 14-18, 2011
Zane King....a very talented keyboard player, and a wholehearted endorsement for Compassion International. Zane = Mr. Compassion!

There were a few people we missed seeing this year. Peg McKamey, for one. The McKameys were there early in the week, but we didn't arrive until late Wednesday. We also missed Brian Lester and the Lester family.
Guy Penrod..... he came last year as a soloist. We didn't see him this year.
The Hunter family, from Canada. Again, they were there.....we just didn't see them.

Well, there are a few of the highlights (and in alphabetical order, no less).

Beloved Mother, Grandmother and Sister...

2010-08-26T12:54:00.007-05:00

Yesterday, we were deeply saddened by the sudden passing of a loved one. Teri Mickelson Cary went to meet Jesus. Knowing that she is now in the presence of the Lord is comforting, but the pain of separation is no less severe. We covet your prayers especially now. I'm including a photograph of Teri with her grandchildren and husband, Jim. It's a very sweet picture.

Jun 20, 1957 - Aug 25, 2010

Teri Lynn Cary, 53, of Danville died at 4:21 p.m. on Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at Great River Medical Center in West Burlington.
Born June 20, 1957 in Keokuk, Iowa she was
the daughter of Robert and Frances Kurtz Mickelson.
On March 7, 2009 she married James “Jim” Cary in Burlington.
She was previously married to Lynn Nye.
Mrs. Cary was a graduate of Central Lee High School.
She worked as a bank teller for Danville State Bank for the past 12 years.
Teri was a member of First United Methodist Church.
She loved to water ski with her boys and her grandchildren.
She enjoyed cross stitch, cooking and decorating.
She loved to travel and take weekend drives.
She especially enjoyed time spent with her
family, whom she loved very much.
Teri could do anything and everything and could do it well.
Survivors include her husband; Jim Cary of Danville;
her children; Joe (Joy) Nye of Iowa City,
Jacob (Melissa) Nye of New London,
Jerad Nye of Mount Pleasant,
Brad (Amy) Cary of Edwardsville, Illinois,
Todd (Laura) Cary of Burlington and
Suzanne (Tobias) Lunsford of Burlington;
twelve grandchildren; five great grandchildren;
her mother, Frances Mickelson of Argyle;
one sister, Michele (Jay) Sandona of Stevens Point, WI;
two brothers, Kirk (Gariann) Mickelson and
Mike (Chris) Mickelson both of Argyle and; nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father, maternal and
paternal grandparents.
Friends may call after noon on Sunday,
August 29th in Lunning Chapel, where the family
will receive friends from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
The funeral service for Mrs. Cary will be 2:00 p.m. Monday,
August 30th in Grace United Methodist Church in Burlington.
The Rev. Mike Orthel will officiate. Following the funeral service the body of Mrs. Cary will be cremated. Inurnment will be in Kossuth Cemetery, Mediapolis at a later date.
Memorials have been established for First United Methodist Church, Danville Fire and Rescue and Melrose Church in Argyle.

Teri Cary

Jun 20, 1957 - Aug 25, 2010

Visitation

Sunday, August 29, 2010
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Lunning Chapel
2620 Mt. Pleasant St.
Burlington, 52601

Services

Monday, August 30, 2010
2:00pm -
Grace United Methodist Church
1100 Angular St.
Burlington, 52601

As Summer Winds Down....

2010-08-16T09:17:00.004-05:00

We have had a very busy, and extremely wet summer! Because of almost daily rain, we have not yet cut our hay. We hope to get it done soon! Also, due to the excessive rainfall, we won't have much to harvest this fall. Much of the bottom ground is still (or again) underwater.
Still, we are thankful for a bountiful sweet corn crop, lots of time spent with family, and time to relax and enjoy the wonders of creation.
Just yesterday, while doing a little weeding, I found a cute little tree frog. At least, I believe it was a tree frog. It was small, green and sitting on a leaf in the honeysuckle bush. I didn't have the camera with me at the time, and of course, later was unable to find him for a picture. I found a photo of a frog that looked just like it in our reptile book.

We enjoyed a fun filled week in northern Wisconsin at Camp Forest Springs. Many of the photos have been posted on FaceBook, so I won't post them again here.

Last week, Little T, the heifer belonging to Zach and Wyatt, gave birth to a beautiful little girl. The boys were thrilled to be here and witness the birthing process. They named their baby Candy. She's doing very well! Little T is a very good mother. The boys will sell Candy when she is weaned.

School resumes one week from tomorrow. I will again be driving the bus, and expect to also drive some activity trips. Summer went much too fast! I'm looking forward to a great school year though.

That's all for now. I'm sure there's much more I could say, but it's time for me to get out and accomplish a few chores!

Four Weeks Left!

2010-07-27T22:40:00.004-05:00

Summer vacation is getting short! Only about four weeks and we'll be back to school. I've talked to some of the students, and a few are ready to get back to classes. Others would like to put it off indefinitely.
Yesterday, we picked, cut, cooked, and bagged enough sweet corn to feed us all winter. I'm not sure of the count, but I'm thinking the total was well over two hundred 3 cup bags. Gariann did more today. Aaron loves sweet corn. He says it's tasty..... delicious!
We had more very heavy rain, which washed our lane out....again! It was even worse this time. Dennis and I worked on it Sunday afternoon. We got back to it again today, with help from Zach. It's pretty well smoothed out now, but needs more rock again.
After working on the lane, we came inside to enjoy some cool air. Zach provided music while I washed some dishes and fixed him some lunch.

An Unplanned Trip

2010-07-10T06:59:00.003-05:00

To the emergency room!
Yesterday Dad was seriously injured while working at the farm. A big heavy chunk of cement with re-bar sticking out of it fell and caught Dad on the back of his legs. Thankfully, Dennis was there! After countless stitches, Dad was sent home.We went over later to find that the patient was relaxing quite comfortably and in excellent spirits.
Dennis didn't sleep well last night. He woke up thinking about how painful that must have been for Dad.

June!

2010-06-30T14:13:00.004-05:00

Wow! Whoever said "life is like a roll of toilet paper.... the closer you get to the end, the faster it goes!" surely must be right. Over the past several weeks, we've attended many baseball games, had two family reunions, and have been trying to keep up with the grass. Because of the huge rains, we've had to do quite a lot of work on the lane. Also because of all the rain, we have not yet mowed our hay. We're hoping to be able to do that soon, but it's still much too wet at this time. We enjoyed getting together with our cousins in Houghton. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures, but Becca Howard has some posted on Facebook. I "borrowed" one from her.
It was great to see them all together.
Zach's baseball team went undefeated this season, winning the championship June 19. We really enjoyed watching them play. Wyatt also played, and had a good year. His league doesn't really keep score, nor do they count outs. Everyone on the roster bats each inning. Wyatt is a pretty good batter.
Last Sunday, June 27, we gathered with the Nye family. It was a reunion for the descendants of John and Thelma Miller Nye. Dad, Martha and Neet are the only three children still living. We enjoyed spending time with them and seeing many of our "long lost" cousins! There were 94 present. We also celebrated Aunt Neet's 85th birthday, with a beautiful cake. Also very tasty!

Farming has been pretty much a wash-out. There will be very little to harvest this fall.
Looking ahead, we have plans to see fireworks both Saturday and Sunday nights. The first ever Mann family reunion is planned for July 31. We hope to be baling hay soon! Rusty is becoming a very good companion and watch dog. He's now been with us for just over four months.
That's about all I can think to tell for now.

Productive Day Until Time To Bathe Rusty

2010-05-15T20:02:00.005-05:00

I had lots of help today, and we got quite a bit accomplished. After completing several jobs, we thought it would be fun to give Rusty a bath. He really needed it! Well, turns out that Rusty didn't want a bath, but since we'd already applied the shampoo, we couldn't stop until he was rinsed. Long story short, the bath ended with one freaked out dog, two very concerned boys, and an extremely painful wound for me. Dr. Dennis helped clean the wounds and applied the super glue and bandages. I sure hope it doesn't get infected! Rusty is now resting quietly beside me, all soft and fluffy and smelling nice and clean. Was it worth it?
Zach mowed our grass and Wyatt trimmed. Wyatt also cleaned the interior of the truck. Both helped do some work at the cemetery, filling low places. I suspect that with all the rain we've had, there may be lots of places needing attention before Memorial Day.
I had hoped to include a few photos, but am unable to upload. After many attempts, I'm giving up!

Finally able to upload the pictures.....Sunday night.

Hail, Hail, It's Stormy Here!

2010-05-12T22:54:00.003-05:00

Actually, it's stormy all across the central states, from Texas to Chicago. Fortunately, we don't have the tornadoes that are ripping through Oklahoma and Kansas. I was just about to fall asleep this evening when the hail started. It sounded like someone throwing rocks at our house. I feared that the windows were going to break. Thankfully, it didn't last very long. It may not look like much in the photo, but it sounded like coconuts falling from the sky!

Farming has pretty much come to a stand still. We've had rain, and more rain. It will eventually dry up, and then they'll be planting crops....some of the farmers will be replanting.

I am looking forward to the last day of school, June 4th. I'm sure the kids are as well. We have about three weeks left. I will be traveling with the fifth graders to Des Moines to visit the State Capitol one day next week. It should be a great time.

The storm seems to have passed, so...good night!

Civil War In Keokuk Again!

2010-04-23T13:41:00.004-05:00

I wonder who will win this year? As usual, along with the Civil War Re-enactment we have rain, heavy rain, and chances of more rain for the weekend. It seems that it always rains on them.
Today is the day all the students get the Civil War tour. I'm in the bus, waiting on the fifth graders from our school to visit all the interesting displays. This is probably the fourth time I've taken this trip with the 5th grade classes, and only one time was the weather nice so that all the activities could take place in the park.

Travis and Dennis have been doing some planting. They've also been working on a culvert that the beavers plugged. Finally, they got it opened up yesterday....just before the rain! Now maybe the fields will drain better. Those nasty little beavers are always causing problems.

Mowing season is in full swing. I've mowed already twice, and it's almost knee high again already.

I must say that the beauty of spring has never looked more beautiful! I don't know if every spring is this pretty, or if it's just such a welcome sight after our long winter. Either way, it is absolutely gorgeous!

Neighborhood Restaurant Story

2010-04-12T10:44:00.004-05:00

I received this in an email from a friend and believe it worthy of sharing. Obviously, it's not MY story, but I do like it!

I was in my neighborhood restaurant this morning and was seated behind a
group of jubilant individuals celebrating the successful passing of the
recent health care bill. I could not finish my breakfast. This is what
ensued:

They were a diverse group of several races and both sexes. I heard the young
man exclaim, "Isn't Obama like Jesus Christ? I mean, after all, he is
healing the sick." The young woman enthusiastically proclaimed, "Yeah, and
he does it for free. I cannot believe anyone would think that a free market
would work for health care. They are all crooks and thieves and don't
deserve all of that money." Another said, 'The stupid Republicans want us
all to starve to death so they can inherit all of the power. Obama should be
made a Saint for what he did for those of us less fortunate." At this, I had
had enough.

I arose from my seat, mustering all the restraint I could find, and
approached their table. "Please excuse me; may I impose upon you for one
moment?" They smiled and welcomed me to the conversation. I stood at the end
of their table, smiled as best I could and began an experiment.

"I would like to give one of you my house. It will cost you no money and I
will pay all of the expenses and taxes for as long as you live there. Anyone
interested?" They looked at each other in astonishment. "Why would you do
something like that?" asked a young man, "There isn't anything for free in
this world." They began to laugh at me, as they did not realize this man had
just made my point. "I am serious, I will give you my house for free, no
money what so ever. Anyone interested?" In unison, a resounding "Hell Yeah"
fills the room.

"Since there are too many of you, I will have to make a choice as to who
receives this money free bargain." I noticed an elderly couple was paying
attention to the spectacle unfolding before their eyes, the old man shaking
his head in apparent disgust. "I tell you what; I will give it to the one of
you most willing to obey my rules." Again, they looked at one another, an
expression of bewilderment on their faces. The perky young woman asked,
"What are the rules?" I smiled and said, "I don't know. I have not yet
defined them. However, it is a free home that I offer you." They giggled
amongst themselves, the youngest of which said, "What an old coot. He must
be crazy to give away his home. Go take your meds, old man." I smiled and
leaned into the table a bit further. "I am serious, this is a legitimate
offer." They gaped at me for a moment.

"Hell, I'll take it you old fool. Where are the keys?" boasted the youngest
among them. "Then I presume you accept ALL of my terms then?" I asked. The
elderly couple seemed amused and entertained as they watched from the
privacy of their table. "Oh hell yeah! Where do I sign up?" I took a napkin
and wrote, "I give this man my home, without the burden of financial
obligation, so long as he accepts and abides by the terms that I shall set
forth upon consummation of this transaction." I signed it and handed it to
the young man who eagerly scratched out his signature. "Where are the keys
to my new house?" he asked in a mocking tone of voice. All eyes were upon us
as I stepped back from the table, pulling the keys from pocket and dangling
them before the excited new homeowner.

"Now that we have entered into this binding contract, witnessed by all of
your friends, I have decided upon the conditions you are obligated to adhere
from this point forward. You may only live in the house for one hour a day.
You will not use anything inside of the home. You will obey me without
question or resistance. I expect complete loyalty and admiration for this
gift I bestow upon you. You will accept my commands and wishes with
enthusiasm, no matter the nature. Your morals and principles shall be as
mine. You will vote as I do, think as I do and do it with blind faith. These
are my terms. Here are your keys." I reached the keys forward and the young
man looked at me dumb founded.

"Are you out of your freaking mind? Who would ever agree to those ridiculous
terms?" the young man appeared irritated. "You did when you signed this
contract before reading it, understanding it and with the full knowledge
that I would provide my conditions only after you committed to the
agreement." Was all I said. The elderly man chuckled as his wife tried to
restrain him. I was looking at a now silenced and bewildered group of
people. "You can shove that stupid deal up you're a** old man, I want no
part of it" exclaimed the now infuriated young man. "You have committed to
the contract, as witnessed by all of your friends; you cannot get out of the
deal unless I agree to it. I do not intend to let you free now that I have
you ensnared. I am the power you agreed to. I am the one you blindly and
without thought chose to enslave yourself to. In short, I am your Master."
At this, the table of celebrating individuals became a unified group against
the unfairness of the deal.

After a few moments of unrepeatable comments and slurs, I revealed my true
intent. "What I did to you is what this administration and congress did to
you with the health care legislation. I easily suckered you in and then
revealed the real cost of the bargain. Your folly was in the belief that you
can have something you did not earn; that you are entitled to that which you
did not earn; that you willingly allowed someone else to think for you. Your
failure to research, study and inform yourself permitted reason to escape
you. You have entered into a trap from which you cannot flee. Your only
chance of freedom is if your new Master gives it unto you. A freedom that is
given can also be taken away; therefore, it is not freedom." With that, I
tore up the napkin and placed it before the astonished young man. "This is
the nature of your new health care legislation."

I turned away to leave these few in thought and contemplation and was
surprised by applause. The elderly gentleman, who was clearly entertained,
shook my hand enthusiastically and said, "Thank you Sir, these kids don't
understand Liberty these days." He refused to allow me to pay my bill as he
said, "You earned this one, it is an honor to pickup the tab." I shook his
hand in thanks, leaving the restaurant somewhat humbled, and sensing a
glimmer of hope for my beloved country.

Use reason, it is the closest you are going to get to Godly conduct
Clifford A. Wright

Please feel free to share with others

March Winds Bring April Showers, April Showers Bring May Flowers...

2010-03-29T10:17:00.002-05:00

And, what do May flowers bring???

PILGRIMS!

The past few days have indeed been quite windy, and March is all but gone! We are in Iowa City this morning getting Dennis' eye exam. I came because they told him to bring a driver.

Zach and I enjoyed our brief time at the Lake of the Ozarks. We went to the LOTO Gospel Sing. We enjoyed the fine music from the Lesters, the Martins, Higher Power Quartet and the Booth Brothers. We also dropped a few dollars at Miner Mikes, the batting cages, and of course the go-karts. We stayed overnight at the Village Inn....adjacent to the Outlet Mall....110 stores! Zach begged me to go shopping... (just kidding). We looked them over from the highway and decided there was nothing there for us.

Well, I'd have added a photo of Dennis here in the waiting room, but before I could get set up to take the shot, he was called into the exam room. Looks like we might get in and out pretty quick! Hmmmm....wonder where we'll go for lunch! Since I've not eaten yet, I'm getting pretty hungry.

Well, that's it for this time.

Meet Rusty!

2010-02-12T23:58:00.002-06:00

We now have a guard dog. Beware if you come visiting!

Groundhog Day and Other Trivial Stuff

2010-02-03T12:13:00.003-06:00

Just as expected, we will have six more weeks of winter! I know these things without Phil's help. Spring always comes on March 21, whether or not Phil sees his shadow. It really makes no difference. I wonder who started that whole "tradition" and why. I suppose with all the information available on the Internet, I could research it and find out. However, I don't think I care enough to spend my time in that endeavor. I have much more pressing things to occupy my time, such as:

Nagging. Now, this is NOT something I enjoy, nor do I spend a lot of time doing it. I don't have to, because Dennis gets just about everything done before I have a chance to nag. But, on occasion ... enough said.
Office duties. Most recently, preparing to file our income tax report. Also not something I particularly enjoy, but it is always a good feeling to have it done and not worry about it for another year.
Playing games. This I enjoy very much! We've been getting together once a week all winter with a fun group of friends and family.
Quick trips to town for various reasons, often including lunch.
Reading. I love to read. I have to limit myself on this or I would get nothing else done!
Small Group. Every Tuesday evening, we meet with people we like and have a time of study, prayer and fellowship. It usually includes some very tasty treats!
Trips out of district. I drive the bus for extra curricular activities. My favorite trips are the band trips and show choir. I'm not much interested in basketball, but I drive for those also sometimes.
Useless time spent on Face Book. I find myself there every time I sit down at the computer. It can really take a lot of time if I'm not careful. However, many times I've learned some interesting information or news from my Face Book friends, so it's not all useless time. It's an easy way to keep in touch with friends afar.
Vacation. I'm not spending time ON vacation yet, but I spend quite a bit of time planning. I get to decide where to go, what to see, where to stay .... I actually think sometimes that half of the fun of a vacation is in the planning! This I enjoy! In fact, once I had so much fun planning our vacation that we saved a bundle of money, because we didn't even have to go!
Wyatt. I love spending time with Wyatt. Some day he will grow up and not have time for me, so I take advantage of every opportunity.
Xanadu. Call me crazy, but I spend a LOT of time here in Xanadu. My home is Xanadu! (Xanadu is defined as a place of beauty, luxury and contentment)
Yard work. Actually, this is a pretty slow time for yard work, but I do try to keep the shrubs trimmed and neat, clean up after the birds and other critters. Even during the winter this takes a little time. Of course, it will require a lot more time as spring nears.
Zach. I also love spending time with Zach. He too will outgrow me someday. I treasure every moment he shares with me, knowing that soon he will be busy with other friends and activities.

Well, that completes the alphabetical list of how my days, hours and minutes are spent. Note to Charlie: I appreciate your confidence in me. :)))

A Hunting We Will Go!

2010-01-31T07:39:00.003-06:00

Today we're going to have pheasant for Sunday dinner at Mom's. Travis and Dennis went hunting Friday, and Dennis had a great time.

They're hoping to take Zach and Jake next week.

Yesterday, I drove our show choir to Muscatine for their first contest. They did very well. The judges scored them as a solid 2. One is the best possible score, and five is the worst. A two is pretty good for the first time out.

More things that occupy my time:

Kitchen duties
Laundry
Making music (I like to play my piano, and play around with making up tunes)

(Note to Charlie: I'm accepting the challenge....but it's going to take some time)

Well, time to wake the boys up and start getting ready for church.

Time Flies

2010-01-27T11:29:00.002-06:00

Sunday was our surprise party for Mom and Dad. I'm quite sure they were totally surprised, and many friends and loved ones came to wish them 'Happy Birthday'. (see the previous post for the picture)
As I just told a friend moments ago, "Life is like a roll of toilet paper....the closer you get to the end, the faster it goes." I must be very near the end, because life seems to be flying along at an incredible speed! January is nearly gone. It seems that I stay quite busy, but get nothing done. Not that I'm greatly concerned about that, but some days I wonder how I could have been so busy and accomplished so little!
These are a few things that occupy my time:

Assisting with "Sparkle In the Darkness" girls' group
Bus Driving
Community Bible Study
Dennis
Exercise (I always intend to do more, but usually don't)
Feeding the birds
Grand parenting
Housework .... just a little bit, once in a while
Imaging (photography and photo editing)
Jesus ... I'd like to think that Jesus is included in every minute of every day

I thought about trying to use the entire alphabet, but won't for at least two reasons:

I am unable to think of an activity for several letters, so a complete alphabetical list isn't even possible for me and my limited vocabulary.
The complete alphabet would mean a list of twenty-six activities. I am not that active! And, if I were, it would sound as if I were boasting.

I must quit here, because the time has slipped away, and if I don't get going, there will be no one to drive the students riding bus #30 home!

Happy Birthday Mom and Dad!

2010-01-20T07:13:00.004-06:00

To the best Mom and Dad on earth, Happy Birthday! I love you!

This picture was taken while we were visiting friends in Colorado a few years ago. Mom and Dad still look the same. They're very active and healthy, for which we are all very thankful! If we took a picture of them today the scene would be ice coated. School has been called off again today because of the ice.
The New Year started off with a bang, literally! We "partied" with the Rockholds, Mickelsons, Mom and Dad and Travis and Gail at the Rockhold's house, eating and playing games until midnight and then firing off a New Year's salute! It was a great time.
We've had plenty of work so far this year, and are thankful. When the temperatures dropped below zero, and the snow was piling up, it was a little stressful, but we were so blessed! We had no problems with machinery starting up and running, and we were able to get everything done with no complications. That may seem insignificant to some people, but we believe God cares about us and for us, and He answers our prayers. We are thankful!
Our snow is now almost gone, but this morning we have a layer of ice. We're enjoying it from the warmth and comfort of our home. We don't have to go out in it until this evening when we plan to meet with the family to celebrate the birthdays of Mom and Dad.
Happy Birthday, Mom and Dad!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

2009-12-26T10:25:00.011-06:00

The past couple of weeks have been a flurry of activity!
We again enjoyed a wonderful weekend with the Rockholds and Mickelsons. We went to Camp Forest Springs for the Christmas Dinner Theater. Of course, we stopped in Fennimore for some Wisconsin cheese, and had to get a winter picture with Igor, the Carr Valley Cheese mascot.
The trip is just over 400 miles, and believe me, we laughed almost all the way!

When we arrived at CFS, we were treated as royal guests. We enjoyed appetizers, an excellent dinner, and the play, which was the best yet! It was an intense drama with a touch of humor. It was fun, and at the same time, portrayed how desperately we need Jesus Christ, and the difference He makes in our lives.

We got a little snow the following weekend, and took the little boys sledding at the cemetery. That's always fun.

Christmas was spent with family from both "sides". We spent Christmas Eve with the Schulte bunch at Pam's house. Then, Christmas morning, we went to Tyler and Kathy's for a fine Christmas breakfast. While we were there, Zach cut his hand with Wyatt's new pocket knife. It was a pretty bad cut, but with a little tape and some super-glue, they got him fixed up. Then, Travis and Gail's for a delicious dinner, and off to Mom and Dad's for supper with the Nye clan.

One of the special joys of this Christmas was getting to meet Ruben's mom and sisters. They came from Honduras to spend Christmas with us, and we were blessed by the time we shared with them.

Snow started falling on Christmas day, and this morning we have about 5-6 inches on the ground with snow still falling. It's beautiful!

All too soon, this year will be history! Happy New Year!

Candlelight Carols In The Windy City

2009-12-07T10:57:00.003-06:00

What an incredible Christmas celebration! We enjoyed the evening immensely! Moody Church itself is something to see, and the performance was excellent. I'm uploading a video I recorded from one of the selections. The Bell Choir did three songs, and I didn't think to record even one. I love the bells! They're my favorite part of the whole program. The conductor also included the entire audience for three songs, and singing carols amidst a huge crowd, accompanied by a symphony orchestra is just indescribably beautiful.

The weather could not have been better! Expecting it to be frigid and windy, I wore my warmest clothes, and never actually cooled off! At times, I was uncomfortably warm, which is much better than miserably cold.

Amtrak is a great way to go. We arrived in Chicago in time for lunch and ate at The Artist, which was just a few steps from our hotel. The Congress Hotel gave us an upgraded room, so we enjoyed the extra space, and even had a small view of the lake. We ate real Chicago-style pizza at Gino's Saturday evening. Delicious! I've never met a pizza I didn't like, but Gino's is the best I've ever tasted.

Michigan Avenue was, of course, very busy... and beautifully decorated. We looked at everything, and even made a few purchases. I'm continually amazed at the beautiful buildings. There was just so much to see, and so little time! We covered a lot of ground for our brief stay. Gariann and Julie could have covered a lot more without me, but were kind enough to adjust to my pace.

Glitz and glitter
Caribou coffee
Germantown
Spiced hot drinks in a souvenir boot mug.
Stairwell races
Coat on, coat off, coat on, no off, no, ON, oops, Off again and on....
Hot chocolate and candy at Ghirardelli's
Bloomingdale's and Miss Ellen
Macy's animated windows
Candied nuts and Chicago-style popcorn
Policemen on horses
Swarovski crystal
FoodLife stir-fry
Family restrooms
Revolving doors
Booty lift britches
Sad blisters

It was a great weekend!

(I wish I'd thought to photograph one of the posters we saw displayed on Michigan Avenue. It seems that in the opinion of Chicago, our President's halo has slipped. )

Much, Much Later Update: Video finally loaded!

The Schulte Men Went Shopping!

2009-11-28T19:23:00.009-06:00

And take a look at what they brought home!

The guys were able to get back in the field today, and had a pretty good day. They hauled over three thousand bushels in spite of a two hour wait at the elevator.
Zach and Wyatt were here Friday to decorate our Christmas tree. It's beautiful, and both boys made a new ornament for the tree. They have made special ornaments for our tree every year since Zach started school.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-24T09:17:00.002-06:00

We're just two days away from Thanksgiving, and then four weeks to Christmas! Where does the time go? Zach and Wyatt are planning to come Friday to decorate our Christmas tree. They have helped every year since they were born, and it's something they seem to enjoy. Of course, I do too!
Most of the farmers in our area are still trying to harvest the crops, including us. It's been a rainy and wet fall! We're are thankful for a bountiful crop! And we'll be thankful when it's all "in the bin" too! Our calves did go to the sale on November 7th. They weighed in at 401 pounds each! We were thankful for the check we received for them. About a week later, we bought a young Angus bull. Wyatt named him Big Daddy T. The last calf we let Wyatt name was "Burger King", and we have maybe five or six packages of him left in the freezer.
We have so much for which to be thankful! I've been noticing on the Facebook pages that people are posting something each day for which they are thankful. I have not been doing that. In fact, I've hardly been on Facebook lately. So, because I have so little else to say, I'm going to list just a few reasons I have to be thankful!

Jesus loves me!
I can worship openly.
I have parents who have loved me all my life....and continue to do so!
I have godly parents.
I have two sisters and a brother.
I am prayed for daily....(by those godly parents)
I have a faithful husband.
I have two wonderful sons.
I have two wonderful daughters-in law.
I have grandchildren! And great grandchildren!
Most of my family lives close (within 50 miles) and we get to see one another often.
I have a comfortable home.
I have reliable transportation.
We have Christian radio.
Indoor plumbing.
I have a job!
I have eyesight, and the ability to read.
I have friends.
I have clothing.
I have plenty to eat.
I'm in good health.
I enjoy playing piano. I'm thankful now for those lessons!
I live in Iowa, the heartland of the USA.
I have enough.

I'm sure I could go on and on, but I received a call from Dennis, and he needs my help! So, that's it for this time!
Happy Thanksgiving!

Autumn Activities Abound!

2009-10-19T10:26:00.002-05:00

Can't believe today is the nineteenth of October! Summer was over way too soon, and amazingly, we're just a few weeks from Thanksgiving! We've traveled countless miles and enjoyed making many great memories with friends and family.
In September, Bobbie and I enjoyed our annual trip to Louisville, Kentucky for the National Quartet Convention. Every time we go, we believe it's the best ever, and this year was no exception. We enjoyed every minute of the trip. We did spend one night at a stinky, sleazy Motel 6 on the way over, but we were able to get some rest, and it really gave us a lot of laughs. Honestly, it was the worst room ever! Let me just say that we will not ever be staying there again.
Oktoberfest 2009 in Ottumwa was wet and cold, but our marching band placed very well in the parade. We took four bus loads of kids, and the weather was so miserable that the bus drivers found a lovely coffee shop, and we stayed warm and dry for the whole time!
Gariann, Mom, Nanci and I went to Branson for the weekend of October 10th. Bob and Brenda gave us a place to stay, and treated us as royal guests! We did some shopping, attended Karla's wedding, and enjoyed an evening at the Dixie Stampede with Hoffstatters and Porters. I came home with a whole new wardrobe! Wow!
Looking ahead, we have another wedding, Candlelight Carols at Moody, and CFS Dinner Theater yet to enjoy.
The foliage in our area is in beautiful fall color, and now that the sun is shining, everywhere I look is simply gorgeous. Farmers are busy with harvest, although Travis and Dennis have not yet started. It's been a little wet, and the crops are still a little green. They expect to be in full harvest mode by next week though.
Our calves have grown, and are just about ready to take the ride to Keosauqua, where they'll find new homes. We expect to sell them early in November, or at least before Thanksgiving.
Well, that pretty much summarizes what's been going on here at Honeysuckle Lodge.
Enjoy these beautiful fall days!

Races at Burlington September 19, 2009

2009-09-27T18:06:00.002-05:00

Brian Neal had a really nice write up about the 4-cylinder race Dennis won on September 19.
To read the entire article, click HERE and then scroll down to the September 20th entry.
It was exciting, with not more than a car length gap between them throughout the entire race!

John Whalen and Dennis Schulte led the field to the green in the 12 lap 4 Cylinder feature, with Schulte edging out Travis Yakle at the line by inches to lead lap 1. Schulte and Yakle would battle for the top spot, when the one and only caution of the event came out on lap 7 for Gabe Harrison's spin on the front stretch. On the restart, Schulte would hold off Yakle to grab the lead. Schulte then held off all challenges by Yakle over the final 5 laps to claim the win. Wayne Noble came from 8th to finish in third, Bryce Bailey came from 11th to finish in fourth, with Darin Smith rounding out the top five.

Thanks to All TEACHERS!

2009-09-12T09:55:00.005-05:00

After being interviewed by the school administration, the prospective teacher said:
'Let me see if I've got this right.
'You want me to go into that room with all those kids, correct their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse, monitor their dress habits, censor their T-shirt messages, and instill in them a love for learning.
'You want me to check their backpacks for weapons, wage war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, and raise their sense of self esteem and personal pride.
'You want me to teach them patriotism and good citizenship, sportsmanship and fair play, and how to register to vote, balance a checkbook, and apply for a job.
'You want me to check their heads for lice, recognize signs of antisocial behavior, and make sure that they all pass the final exams.
'You also want me to provide them with an equal education regardless of their handicaps, and communicate regularly with their parents in English, Spanish or any other language, by letter, telephone, newsletter, and report card.
'You want me to do all this with a piece of chalk, a blackboard, a bulletin board, a few books, a big smile, and a starting salary that qualifies me for food stamps.
'You want me to do all this and then you tell me. . . I CAN'T PRAY?

Not all of us are "school teachers", but all of us are teachers none the less. You are being observed, and you are teaching as long as you're breathing. The question is not, "do I teach". The question is "What do I teach"! Think about that! Pray about that!

Summer Vacation Coming to an End!

2009-08-22T08:09:00.002-05:00

Already! Monday morning I'll be back to school. Students will return on Tuesday. Where did the summer go?
I received an E-mail this morning with one sentence at the very end that I thought worthy of posting. I need to see this, read this, and apply this every day! Perhaps you do also?

Lord, keep Your arm around my shoulder and Your hand over my mouth!

Rebuilding Strong!

2009-08-10T18:28:00.004-05:00

Twenty-five years ago, Dennis built our cattle corral. Today, he's replacing a good portion of it. Several posts had rotted away, and it was no longer strong enough to push the cattle through.
He says the replacements should make it good for another 25 years, so he figures this is the last time he will be doing this little job. When he did it the first time, he used a jobber to dig the post holes. This time, he used the auger. Even so, it was a lot of hard work, and I appreciate it!
I don't know too many who would tackle it alone at his age! He does good work, and lots of it too!
I'm so blessed to have such a fine husband!

So, while he works so hard out in the heat and humidity, what do I do? You're reading it!
I'm also fixing some grub, so when he gets finished he will have just enough time to shower before supper is ready.
School starts August 25! I can't believe summer is almost over.

I found the pictures from 25 years ago in my scrapbook. Decided to scan and post them just for fun. Here's Dennis and his "helpful" dog team, building our first corral.

If you use Facebook, I have more pictures there. I have also put a lot of the pictures from my week in Wisconsin on Facebook. I think you can find me by clicking here.

Almost AUGUST!

2009-07-31T10:25:00.005-05:00

We're just over three weeks from a new school year. Still a little time, but so much we want to do! Yesterday we did the annual corn process. Dad and Travis picked, we all shucked until we had a head start, and then we let the cutters start. Once we had some cut, Gariann went inside to do the cooking and cooling. We started around 7:30 and had picked, shucked, cut and cooked about 130 dozen ears. We don't have a final count on the number of bags in the freezer yet, but I'm guessing it will exceed 250 pints. We were a great team, and we'll all have corn to eat this winter even if we have nothing else!

Zach finally agreed to get his hair cut! I think he's so much healthier looking and handsome with his buzz cut! Wyatt got his cut several weeks before Zach, and at first he thought he looked "like a dork". He didn't, of course! I think their buzz cuts are cute!

VERY Brief Update!!!

2009-07-23T08:33:00.003-05:00

Since several have pointed out that I've not updated in some time, here is a very quick update.
More later, with pictures.

Summer school has gone very well and will end July 30.
Swimming party for just our family at the new pool tonight! Should be fun!
Spent last weekend in Northern Wisconsin at Camp Forest Springs
Spending this weekend in Northern Wisconsin at Camp Forest Springs
Sweet corn is almost ready to pick and process for our winter supply!
Summer is going by way too fast!!!!

It was totally unintentional, but each of those things listed started with an "S"! Here are a few more random news flashes:

Bobbie got a new car! 2010 Prius. Very nice!
Gariann and Kirk have new bikes! Also very nice!
We have lots of bluebirds utilizing all those boxes Zach made.
It's raining again today!
Jake had his 18th birthday yesterday! WOW!
I have become a collector of baseball cards!
We're still looking for a good home for our dog. Call if you're interested!
All three calves are doing well, growing and cute as can be.
Lynn has ordered solar lights for our flagpoles! Yea!
We've been reading a lot more this summer, and watching less television! Yea!!!

Well, I'm sure I could go on and on, but my students will be here in about ten minutes, and I have to be ready!
Watch for new photos soon!

10:30 PM
Just back from the pool party.

July First!

2009-07-01T20:58:00.006-05:00

Finally! It's been so long since my last post, I really don't know where to start!
On June 11, summer school classes started at Mar's One Room Schoolhouse. I have two students attending three mornings each week. They're both very good students. I am really hard pressed to have challenging lessons for Zach. I've been having him working with multiplying, adding and subtracting fractions, finding percentages, and lots of multiplication and division problems to solve. Wyatt is learning to count by twos and threes. He's also counting by fives and tens to one hundred, which he learned in his kindergarten class, but we don't want to forget! He is reading aloud every day. We alternate between music, art and P.E. One day, we had Bobbie as a guest art teacher. They each went home with a very nice pastel picture.

Our heifers have all calved. The first two had no problems, but the third one was unable to deliver on her own. By the time we realized she needed help, the calf was dead. Kirk came to help us and we were able to save the cow. The fourth and final one also had difficulty, but we were ready this time. All three of the living calves are girls. The one we lost was a boy.

Travis has been building rafters in our barn. He's using the lumber he salvaged from Grandma Schulte's house. She'd be very pleased to know that! Dennis and Dad have helped quite a bit. They're a hard-working crew! I should have taken a picture of them while they were working. Instead, I caught them sitting down for lunch, telling stories and laughing a lot.

Today, we put up about 475 bales of hay. We had quite a crew, and everything went well. We had Tyler coming to help when he got off, but we'd just finished unloading the last wagon as he drove down the lane. It was a perfect day for it. The temperatures were in the low seventies and mostly cloudy skies. Our crew hardly broke a sweat!

June!

2009-06-05T11:28:00.003-05:00

Wow! School's out, and the first week of "summer vacation" is already gone! It's been a full week with various activities. Lots of mowing, some planting, chasing cows, fixing fences, walking every morning with Mom and Bobbie, and baseball games are just a few of the things that have kept us busy.
We finally decided that the bird pictured in the previous post was indeed a snow bunting. He's since moved on. Last night we enjoyed hearing the whippoorwills! Lightning bugs and whippoorwills....can it get any better than that? I love summer!
The pictures below just prove that some members of our family might be a little crazy! Tyler, and his friend, Michael are laying on the ground hoping Wyatt jumps far enough to clear them. You'll not catch me doing that!

Can You Help?

2009-05-16T10:40:00.003-05:00

We are unable to identify this bird. It's about the size of a sparrow. If you know what it is, we'd love to hear from you! We think it may be a snow bunting, but it's not quite like the pictures we have in our book.

Wet and Windy Wednesday

2009-05-13T18:42:00.010-05:00

We hear thunder rumbling, and know it's coming. We just don't know how long before it hits. We're really hoping that the "large hail" will not get here at all!
These past few weeks, we have enjoyed watching a family of cardinals. They built a nest in the bayberry bush right next to our front porch. We observed the mother sitting on her eggs. It wasn't long before they hatched, and we watched the parents feed their babies. Both worked constantly caring for the young ones. Today, the young left the nest! I noticed the parents flitting about and "clucking" a lot. After looking more closely, I saw one of the little ones hopping around in the bush, and then it tried to fly. My fear was that the dog would notice, and kill the babies, but that didn't happen. I expect we'll see them frequently at the feeders now. I'm adding pictures in no particular order.

Isn't he (or she) cute!
Well, the storm hit, and we got less than a half inch of rain....so far. It really blew and rained hard, but not for too long. No hail, thankfully. Our Internet service stalled out, as it normally does during a bad storm. The sky is still very cloudy, but it looks like it might be breaking up.
I hope the baby birds were in a safe, dry place!

The Family That Works Together...

2009-05-04T12:39:00.009-05:00

...gets a LOT done! And what a blessing it is to see grandsons benefit from the skills and knowledge of Grandpa and Great Grandpa! Zach's "Make It Happen" project is to build and place nesting boxes to be used by Eastern Bluebirds. We have yet to place them, but spent Saturday afternoon in Dad's shop, building birdhouses. It was fun, and the boys learned a lot too! We're planning to put the houses out one afternoon this week.

Zach's drilling the entry holes for the houses.

Here they are putting the roof on the first one.

Wyatt is using a file to round off the sharp edges.

Here's the first one finished! Only eight to go.

I'm in countdown mode at school. There are only 18 days remaining for this year! Yahoo!
Farming, for us anyway, has not yet started. We've had lots of rain, and expect more yet this week. When it does dry up, we'll be plenty busy until it's all done.
Our heifers should start calving sometime after the middle of June. It will be fun to have babies again, but they won't be "pets" like the goats were. I sure miss those little goats.

Prom 2009

2009-04-18T17:03:00.001-05:00

The lovely couple. Off for an evening of fun!

And the Winner Is...

2009-04-12T18:36:00.003-05:00

Dennis! He said the car was fast, and the competition was tough! Although he's said he won't be running for points this year, I'm betting that he will try to run the entire Dash for Cash series. It's just five races and a big finale in mid-September. The only question is: Will he be able to make the May 9th race? We'll have to see how the planting season goes.

Off To The Races!

2009-04-11T19:01:00.004-05:00

Dennis is off to the races this evening. I was invited, but after thinking about it for a while, I decided I really didn't care to be sitting out in the wind and cold. I'll wait for warmer nights. It's the first time out for this year. As he was leaving I ran out to get a picture.
I think the last time the car ran, Tyler was driving it because his own car broke down. Tyler was going for the points in a special series. Dennis was happy to let him run it, and Tyler did win the championship. Of course, Dennis was tickled about it. Tyler built the car and made it fast.

In fact, there were times when Dennis wondered if Tyler might be sorry he made it so fast, because Dennis was Tyler's toughest competition. He even beat Tyler once in a while. Anyway, he's off tonight to see what it will do. Who knows? He might bring home a trophy!

Since it's been almost a month since the last post, I'll try to catch up, not that there has been so much to tell. Spring has arrived. Things are beautiful and green and the songbirds are all around. Zach helped me mow grass last weekend. He did a good job. I let him mow the level places, and he thought that was great!

Tomorrow is Resurrection Sunday. Our choir is doing a "mini-musical" and I'm really looking forward to it. We've been practicing for several weeks, and again this morning. Some of the songs are just so beautiful. One in particular really chokes me up when we sing it. I don't know how the soloist gets through it without breaking! It's going to be at Burnside Christian Church (in Burnside IL) at 9:45 A.M. and you're all invited!

Yesterday, while out walking in the woods, I noticed that the big water hole in our pasture is teeming with mosquitoes about to hatch. All the goldfish we keep in the stock tanks survived the winter, but there were too many in one tank. I decided to catch a few and put them in that water hole to eat those mosquitoes! Catching them was more difficult than I'd anticipated, but I did manage to catch seven. They seemed to like their new home. This afternoon I went to check on them, and they were all fine.

All four of our heifers appear to be expecting and we think we'll start getting calves late in June. They're not as fun as the goats were, but they're very nice and pretty. I still miss the goats. But, cows don't jump on cars! I still remember how upset Dennis was to find the goats walking all over our van! Still, they were so cute!

We've been doing a bit of fishing, but we've not had any luck. Today, while I was out around the pond, I saw a fish jump. Maybe the next time we go the fish will be more interested.

Well, I'm sure there was more, but I can't remember anything else at the moment. If Dennis comes home with a trophy, I'll have news tomorrow.

Thursday! Fun With Thomas the Tank Engine

2009-03-19T13:34:00.004-05:00

It's a perfectly gorgeous day. We started off a bit chilly, with frost covering the ground, but it's sunny and 60 degrees, with no wind! I love it!
Wyatt has been spending every day with me this week. He doesn't have school. Kindergarten spring break! He told me just a little while ago that he likes coming here better than school. He's been building track and playing with my Thomas stuff all day today. Here's what it looks like:

Dennis has been keeping busy, and has been able to cross a few things off the "to do" list. The knee and elbow are improving all the time, and he's faithful in doing is exercises. It won't be long until he and Travis are busy planting.
With this absolutely beautiful weather, I'm going to stop typing and get out there!

Thursday's Thoughts

2009-03-12T18:37:00.004-05:00

Today I enjoyed the time between bus routes hanging out with my cousin. Wow! How long has it been since we just got together for no reason, and spent some time together? One fun, and interesting thing we did was visit a couple of the local churches to look at (and photograph) stained glass windows. Can you believe that I didn't have my camera? What was I thinking? Ummm...obviously, I was NOT thinking! I hope Nanci got some good pictures. We met our friend, Pam at the First Baptist Church, and then went together to Calvary Baptist, where we stayed quite a while visiting with Pastor Heath. Both Nanci and I were raised in that church, but at the time, it was Calvary Community. We enjoyed reminiscing and sharing stories with Pastor Heath and Pam.
We had some serious conversations as well as a lot of laughs. It was a day well spent!
Have you seen the big, bright, and beautiful moon the past couple of days? Wednesday morning it looked like a huge ball suspended just above the trees on the western horizon. It was gorgeous! This morning it was pretty too, but not as spectacular as Wednesday morning.
Tomorrow is Friday the 13th again! How lucky is that, to have Friday the 13th in two consecutive months? It's also "Game Night" at our church. I'd think about going, but seem to be coming down with a serious cold or sinus infection. I doubt that anyone would appreciate sharing that with me! Our spring revival starts on Sunday, and I am hoping to make it for each night. The theme is "What I Didn't Know When I Was 12..." I can think of lots of things I didn't know when I was twelve!
We had grilled talapia for supper, and although I don't care much for fish, it was quite good. I was surprised. Now I'm being told that it's "movie time", so I better get to my recliner! We're going to watch "8 Seconds: The Lane Frost Story" ... again. We like it!

Just for Dobey!

2009-03-04T12:06:00.003-06:00

Here's a cute picture for JCC's Dobey. I found it among some photos of a friend on Facebook, and of course thought of Dobey.

Not much else in the way of news here. Dennis has had elbow surgery, is healing well, and working to stretch his range of motion a little bit. We'd hoped for a lot more, but optimism was doused when we talked to the surgeon last week. He says that it's very unlikely that he will be able to fully extend and completely bend it, but at least he won't have the pain he had before!

Signs of spring are increasing daily, and I am excited about that! Every season is my favorite. I'm especially enjoying some of the "early birds" at the feeder. So far I've only seen a few spring arrivals dining with the regulars. Yesterday I saw a pair of towhees.

Our boys' basketball team is going to Des Moines for the playoffs. That alone is an accomplishment, even if they don't make it all the way. I'll be there Monday night along with most of our district, hoping that they'll be able to claim the title. Go, Hawks!

February Fun

2009-02-08T07:42:00.005-06:00

Since swimming in the creek last weekend, we've been back down to the frigid zero degree temperatures, and then back up to 50 on Friday. What a roller coaster! We were very happy for the beautiful weather Saturday. Tyler and Kathy are away for the weekend, so the boys and I had planned to take a short trip to see a local historical site. Columbus Junction has a really nice swinging bridge. I pitched it to the boys as "going to see the Indiana Jones bridge". When we were almost in Columbus Junction, Wyatt said, "I don't think this bridge will be the same bridge Indiana Jones was on."
After the big build up, I was a little concerned that they'd be disappointed when we actually saw the bridge, but they both were very excited and interested. We stayed longer than I expected, just running across it and feeling it bounce and swing. If you have never been to Columbus Junction to see their swinging bridge, we recommend that you do so!
We think that we could build a swinging bridge and hope to try it during summer vacation. We're going to start gathering building materials and making plans. Naturally, our progress will be reported here, if indeed we actually get to build.
We stopped to play at the Denning Conservation Area near Houghton on our way home. We were the only ones there for quite a while. Another family with three little girls came, and they eventually started communicating with the boys. Actually, chasing the boys would be a better description. They chased and chased until they were worn out and their parents told them it was time to go. After they left, the boys wondered "why did those girls chase us". I just told them to get used to it, and keep running....that girls would be chasing them from now until one lucky girl catches a husband!

Denning Park is a very nice playground, very secluded and quiet, but the neighboring fields have recently been fertilized with organic waste, so the air wasn't as fresh as we would have liked. Otherwise, it's a great place to take the kids!

January Thaw!

2009-02-01T15:21:00.005-06:00

With the last day of January having sunshine and temperatures in the fifties, we enjoyed playing outdoors. We were not really planning to get wet, but when we fell through some soft ice on the creek, the boys decided to enjoy the water. I also went through the ice and got wet, but I wasn't cold, so I figured that we wouldn't have to head back to the house unless someone complained.
They were already wet, so why not have some fun!

As we were walking back home, Zach said, "We always have fun when we come to your house, and sometimes it's kind of weird fun." I think he must have thought that playing in the creek in the winter is weird. I don't really know. I do know that they both thought it was more fun than playing Wii! And, I happen to know that they love playing Wii.

Can't Argue With Dr. Rogers!

2009-01-28T09:59:00.006-06:00

The following came to me in an e-mail. Perhaps you've seen it. I think he's completely right about this, and I can almost hear him saying:

"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation.

You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."

~~~~~ The late Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931 - 2005 ~~~~~

Comments?

My Best Shot of the Day!

2009-01-21T14:21:00.002-06:00

Taken just an hour ago!

One of the comments on this post warrants adding here for all to see.

1 Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in the whole earth!
You have made your glory
higher than the heavens.
2 You have made sure that children
and infants praise you.
You have done it because of your enemies.
You have done it to put a stop to their talk.
3 I think about the heavens.
I think about what your fingers have created.
I think about the moon and stars
that you have set in place.
4 What is a human being that you think about him?
What is a son of man that you take care of him?
5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings.
You placed on him a crown of glory and honor.
6 You made human beings the rulers over all that your hands have created.
You put everything under their control.
7 They rule over all flocks and herds
and over the wild animals.
8 They rule over the birds of the air
and over the fish in the ocean.
They rule over everything that swims in the oceans.
9 Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in the whole earth!
---Psalm 8 (NIV)
Thanks, Chris!

Living Insight from Chuck Swindoll....

2009-01-17T12:48:00.010-06:00

With temperatures soaring up in the low to mid thirties today, we took advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. We started off playing "Fox and Geese" on the pond (frozen, of course). After some time though, this fat, old, out of shape goose was weary, so we moved on through the woods just shooting at stumps with the BB guns. We ended up walking along the big creek, which was fairly solid, but had some open and flowing water. I let the boys go check it all out, warning them to test the ice, and not get too close to the open water. Well, here are the pictures, showing that they really didn't heed my advise.

Zach did fall in, but was able to catch himself, so he didn't get soaked. We got cold pretty quickly after that though, because he was a bit wet. So, instead of staying out and playing longer, we had to head back to the house sooner than we would have otherwise.

As we got back inside, I thought to myself how I too, sometimes like to be right on the edge. Maybe you have times that you also enjoy playing too close to the edge, I don't know. What came to my mind, and what I'm attempting to convey here is that we do often tend to linger just at the edge of the forbidden. Living on the Ragged Edge came to my mind, and I hope Chuck doesn't mind being quoted here, but on page 4 in the study guide of Living On The Ragged Edge by Charles R. Swindoll he points out some conclusions drawn from the life of Solomon.
The sensual lure of something better tomorrow robs us of the joys offered today.
In our case, the thrill of playing at the edge, on thinner ice, robbed us of the joy of staying out longer today. We came in because the boys were lured into a "thrill" and it ended up sending them back to the house.
The personal temptation to escape is always stronger than the realization of its consequences.

Again, in our case, the temptation to enjoy the thrill of perceived danger was stronger than the realization of its consequences. They didn't think about having to go back in once they were wet!

I'll leave you to draw your own applications. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
I think we're going to play Sorry. How ironic!
But first....here's a picture of the little woodsmen sitting in our favorite red bud tree.

Record Setting Cold!

2009-01-16T11:04:00.004-06:00

We were about the only school in the area to have classes today! Our temperature was about 14 below zero. School started two hours late, and after lunch I am driving the third grade classes to Keokuk for Bald Eagle Appreciation Day. I'm hoping to get some really good pictures. I came home mainly to get my camera, because I forgot to grab it when I left for the morning run.
Here at our house, the bird feeder is abuzz with activity. I counted 18 beautiful, bright red cardinals at one time in and around the feeder. They can go through a 50 pound bag of seed quickly!

Sunday Afternoon Fun!

2009-01-11T20:05:00.010-06:00

After church, and a fine dinner at Mom and Dad's, Tyler, Dennis and the boys went ice racing with Michael on Kern's pond. It was a perfect day for it...not too cold, but cold enough! The pond had about 8 inches of ice.

Tyler put ice screws on all their tires, as did Michael and Dennis. Without those, they would have no traction. Tyler and Dennis have done this before, but it was a new experience for the little guys. Of course, they loved it. They wanted to keep going after the old guys were ready to go, but there will be other days.

These big boys will race anything. You may not notice unless you inspect this picture closely. There are two motorcycles and one four wheeler trying to beat each other around the corner. Dennis is leading, with Michael coming along inside going for the pass. Tyler's behind it all, just waiting for his opportunity to pass them both.
Tyler did this jump several times, coming up the pond levee and jumping about 60 feet out onto the pond. Dennis went over to stand in as a "measurement" for height, and Tyler went over his head! Dennis is over 6 feet tall, and he couldn't believe it!

Remember When.....

2009-01-09T10:23:00.003-06:00

I've been doing quite a bit of reminiscing lately. I'm sure much of the reason I seem to be spending so much time "in the past" is due to the project that seems to be consuming so much of my time these days. At any rate, I've been remembering things that seem to be forgotten in today's world. For example, do you remember when...
Hubingers (yes, back then Roquette America was Hubingers) had an 8 o'clock, noon and 4 o'clock whistle that could be heard all over town?
Main Street was two lanes with diagonal street parking?
Kids fished in the pond at Rand Park?
The Keokuk Saddle Club was almost out of town?
Keokuk Hamilton bridge was a skinny little toll bridge? (most will remember this...because it is fairly recent)
Lee County Sheriff threw candy (Tootsie Rolls, of course) at kids when he saw them on the streets? And he always had a big German Shepherd with him too.
Graham Hospital and St. Joe Hospital?
The OLD public library? And the NEW library?
J. C. Penney's on Main Street?
The Apex Discount store?
Fun family outings such as walking the railroad tracks, biking River Road to Sandusky, boating, swimming and skiing on the Mississippi? Family reunions, where even the adults played softball?

Well, New Year's Eve, we were invited to Rockhold's for food and games. We had a wonderful time, and I wish that I'd taken more pictures, but while we were playing, we had to laugh at how things have changed. First, when we were kids, on New Year's Eve we would likely have been at church for the Watchnight service, which included food, fellowship, fun and games, as well as a time of worship. In addition, back then we would NOT have been playing cards! Although my family was a bit more liberal in that area, there were many who wouldn't play a game with a deck of playing cards. Yet, here we are, playing Texas Hold'Em with even the preacher and his wife! We had to laugh about that.
Back then, there were so many things that a proper and refined person just did not say or discuss. Apparently, that's not so any more either!
Certainly, things have changed.
Good or bad? What do you say?

Happy New Year

2009-01-02T08:12:00.006-06:00

We have so enjoyed all the family gatherings over the holidays. We spent New Year's Day with Kuzzin Bubba and his Momma. As always, that was quite entertaining! Of course, there was plenty of great food, fellowship, fun and games. There were more than 100 in attendance, which may seem like a large crowd to some. However, last year I believe there were 130, so I think there were many who were unable to be there this year. We missed them, but it was, never the less, a very good time. I am very thankful for our family!

Here's Wally, wearing the "wild card" Chicken Hat! He had the option to exercise the power of the wild card and take a gift from anyone present IF he was willing to meet the requirements of the Wild Card Option. He chose to do so, and took a set of pliers from one of the young men. Of course, the person from which he took the pliers got to keep the Chicken Hat. Both seemed very pleased with the trade.

We have just one more family party to go. We'll be celebrating with the Mann family on Saturday. I'm hoping that all of them will make it. We don't live so very far apart, but it seems that we only see one another about twice a year, so we're looking forward to a good visit.

Happy New Year!

Posted By Request....

2008-12-23T08:35:00.008-06:00

Since you asked, here are my photos taken of the eagle perched in our tree last Saturday. At least I think it was Saturday. We've been so unscheduled since the last day of school it's hard to keep track of days. I wish I'd walked a little closer to the tree, but didn't because I was afraid it would scare him away. We really enjoyed watching him, but have not seem him around here since Sunday. We're seeing plenty of the little songbirds though! In fact, today we're going to have to run to town for more bird feed! They eat unbelievable quantities, and the birds that come seem to announce to every bird in the county that we're serving, so the flocks keep getting bigger. We enjoy watching them though, and will continue throughout the winter. Many times recently, we've seen so many colorful birds in and around the feeder that it would seem the bushes are beautifully decorated. I'm ever amazed at the variety and beauty of each species. God made the heavens and the earth we see so beautiful, it's hard to imagine how beautiful heaven will be!

This may be my last post until after Christmas, so let me leave you with a Christmas card greeting.

When you get right down to it, He's the only thing that really matters. Merry Christmas to you!

Heartland Ice Storm!

2008-12-20T07:28:00.004-06:00

School was canceled all over the tri-state area yesterday much to the dismay of students, teachers, and most of all, bus drivers! We started our Christmas vacation a day early. I confess, it did not upset me one little bit, but the little boys were truly disappointed, because Friday was the day they were to have their classroom Christmas parties. To help alleviate their disappointment, we had our own little "class party" at Mar's Old Fashioned One Room Schoolhouse. First, we baked cookies. I was able to find some little items to wrap up for party favors. We enjoyed hot chocolate in fancy little cups and saucers with warm cookies, played some table games, and each of the boys received a small gift. It was great fun. In fact, they thought it may have been even better than the party that would have taken place in their "real school".

After all that, we went out to slip and slide on the ice. Walking was a challenge for me, but that wasn't exciting enough for them. They wanted to ride their bikes on the ice and then they got the sled and saucer out.

It took them about two hours to get wet and cold enough to come back inside. Wyatt was tired, and said he wanted to take a little nap! Can you believe that---he's asking me to let him take a nap! That's a real switch! While he was resting, Zach played quietly and I cleaned up the mess we made baking cookies.
All in all, we enjoyed a wonderful day. Just before they went to sleep for the night, they both commented about the fact that we "didn't even go anywhere today". I told them that I especially enjoyed days that were spent entirely at home, and they agreed.
Indeed, there's no place like home!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!!!

2008-12-11T12:57:00.007-06:00

With Christmas less than two weeks away, we're still trying to find that "perfect" gift for several on our list! Actually, most of the shopping is done, decorations are in place, and we're just counting the days until school dismisses for Christmas break. They probably call it winter break, but we say Christmas around here! December 19th is the last day of school for us, and we'll be off until January 5th. Yahoooo! (Got it right this time, Charlie)

During the Thanksgiving break, I bought sling-shots for the boys. They really enjoyed them while they were here, but their Mommy wouldn't let them take the sling-shots home. I can't imagine why! She said something about windows and cars and such, and that there was no way they would want the boys armed with sling-shots around their place. So, I guess they can look forward to using them when they come to visit.
The first weekend of December, we traveled with Gariann, Kirk, Nanci and Ron to Camp Forest Springs. We had a wonderful trip from start to finish. Thousands of laughs. Camp hosted a dinner theater Saturday evening, and we thoroughly enjoyed that. Since we came such a distance, we stayed overnight in the luxurious Ministry Center rooms and they even prepared breakfast for us before we left Sunday morning! I had never been so far north in the winter, and was pleasantly surprised! The snow was beautiful, and although the temperatures were hovering near zero, it was not miserable at all! In fact, although I did take a coat, I never once had to put it on.

We're enjoying some winter-like weather here at home now. There's a little snow on the ground, with hope for more to come. We're so thankful for our family, friends, home, jobs, health, and so much more! And, in case we don't post again before the 25th, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

November Snow!

2008-11-30T07:30:00.005-06:00

It's SNOWING!!! Yippeeee! If the old wives' tale is true, that would mean we'll have 30 measurable snows this winter! I say "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!"

Friday, Zach and Wyatt helped put up and decorate our Christmas tree. Friday evening we hosted the Texas Hold'Em players. Everyone had a great time.

And Our President-Elect Is....

2008-11-03T21:03:00.009-06:00

Wow! Can it be November already? Tomorrow is election day. We'll be casting our votes right after my morning route. According to the news, they're expecting an unprecedented voter turn-out. We recently received an e-mail with ten "election predictions". Regardless of who wins:

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.

2. Prayer will still work.

3. The Holy Spirit will still move.

4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.

5. There will still be God-anointed teaching and healing.

6. There will still be singing of praise to God.

7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.

8. There will still be room at the Cross.

9. Jesus will still love you.

10. Jesus will still save the lost.

ISN'T IT GREAT TO KNOW WHO IS REALLY IN CONTROL!

Thanks, Mary Ann, for sharing that e-mail!

Sunday afternoon the kids were here to ride motorcycles. It was a beautiful day. They rode the trails and hills, but they also found some other entertaining activities. They really had fun with an old, nearly worn out big bale ring.

They also had fun climbing our huge sycamore tree. Wyatt and Hannah were posing for pictures when we noticed that there was another face in the frame. Squeak had climbed up there with them.

Congratulations Tyler!

2008-10-10T09:32:00.007-05:00

Tyler set out to win a five race series at Burlington 34 Raceway this summer. He was going for the point championship, winning the first two races in his #96 Buick. In the third race, he had suspension problems and finished way back in twelfth position. As a result, he lost the point lead. Good old Dad, (Dennis) had him drive his #0 Celica for the last two races which Tyler won, giving him the point championship, by a mere two points! Way to go, Tyler!

The points were "driver" points, so changing cars was permissible. Fortunately, Tyler built Dennis a strong, quick car with a good handle not ever thinking that he himself would need it! There may have been a few times that Tyler questioned his wisdom in making his Dad so competitive, because Dad was pretty hard to beat! For all those great times and wonderful memories, thanks again, Tyler, and congratulations!

Here's the Latest....

2008-09-25T19:33:00.005-05:00

Well, NQC was absolutely wonderful. I don't think I could do it justice by describing what it was like. Bobbie and I are now permanent seat holders. Someday maybe we'll get to go for the whole week, but for now we will be planning to attend Thursday through Saturday. We've already reserved our room across the street from the Expo Center, and looking forward to NQC 2009. I do have some pictures and a few "stories", and perhaps sometime soon I'll share those.
This post is to announce that Dennis won his race at Donnellson last Saturday. Here's the write-up about it, along with a picture taken afterwards.

By Jake Croxton

Dennis Schulte returned to LCS for a little fun and picked up the Shottenkirk Part Express Wild Thing 12-lapper in caution-free fashion. Randy Foor led early and looked to have the race well in hand, but Schulte methodically erased the deficit and brought Rob Hammel through with him to second. Chris Loring, Jr. and Jim Oliver, III raced to top five finishes.

A-Main 01 -- 1. Dennis Schulte, Keokuk; 2. Rob Hammel, Hamilton, Ill.; 3. Randy Foor, Morning Sun; 4. Chris Loring, Jr., Keokuk; 5. James Oliver III, Hamilton, Ill.; 6. Bill Whalen, Jr., Riverside; 7. Brent Hartley, Niota, Ill.; 8. Jim Garrett, Ottumwa; 9. Ryan Anderson, Donnellson; 10. William Michel, Farmington; 11. Jason Fowler, Donnellson; 12. Chuck Fullenkamp, Fort Madison; 13. Kevin Garrett, Bloomfield; 14. R Noble, Wapello; 15. Cory Sheetz, Keota; 16. Josh Green, Wapello; 17. Travis Yakle, Wapello; 18. Bryan Rodefer, Fort Madison.

Heat 01 -- 1. James Oliver III, Hamilton, Ill.; 2. Chris Loring, Jr., Keokuk; 3. Randy Foor, Morning Sun; 4. Jim Garrett, Ottumwa; 5. Bryan Rodefer, Fort Madison; 6. Travis Yakle, Wapello.

Heat 02 -- 1. Dennis Schulte, Keokuk; 2. Bill Whalen, Jr., Riverside; 3. Ryan Anderson, Donnellson; 4. Josh Green, Wapello; 5. William Michel, Farmington; 6. Cory Sheetz, Keota.

Heat 03 -- 1. Rob Hammel, Hamilton, Ill.; 2. Brent Hartley, Niota, Ill.; 3. Chuck Fullenkamp, Fort Madison; 4. Jason Fowler, Donnellson; 5. R Noble, Wapello; 6. Kevin Garrett, Bloomfield.

He didn't get to race all summer because of the knee replacement, so he was very excited about getting back "on track". Of course, I nagged and harped at him for being so foolish. After all, that knee was just put in there June 20th....only three months ago. But, in spite of my concerns, he raced, and won....all without any damage to the new joint. Just like he said. I guess I'm just an old worry wart.

I've been keeping busy with activity bus trips and fishing whenever we have the opportunity. Every day we're noticing more and more fall colors. Travis has been getting the combine ready for harvest. They'll be in the fields most likely within a few weeks.

I just finished reading a new, hot-off-the-press book. It's titled "Unpacking Forgiveness" by Chris Brauns. It was very well written, and although the book is quite meaty, it's very easy to read. I highly recommend it!

Well, as Porky Pig says, "Th-th-th-that's all, folks!"

Look Out Louisville!

2008-09-10T10:12:00.004-05:00

Bobbie and I will be leaving as soon as I can finish my afternoon bus route. If any of you readers just happen to be attending the NQC look for us in the crowd! As you can see from the photo, it actually started Sunday. Maybe someday we'll be able to go for the whole week! Until then, I'm just thankful for the opportunity to attend Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We plan to be home before dark on Sunday. In the meantime, the Mr. will be taking care of everything here on the home front.

Summer in September!

2008-09-02T09:46:00.002-05:00

Well, here it is, September already. It's hard to believe that summer is over. It's especially hard to believe it when the temperatures are actually higher than they were for most of the summer!
Yesterday, Labor Day, we actually worked. We did several jobs that have been waiting to be done for quite some time, and I am happy to have them officially "scratched off" of the to-do list.
Today, as I was driving, I noticed many woolie worms. I started to count them, but there were so many that it was distracting, so I stopped counting at 34. Every single one of them (the 34 I counted plus all the rest that I saw) were black! In addition, they were ALL traveling southwest! Yes, every single one --- traveling southwest. So, you ask? Well, of course, they are not 100% accurate, but the message they're sending is this: If you can't spend the winter in Arizona, you'd better buy thermal underthings and stock the pantry. Winter will arrive on or about December 20th, and it will last well into March 2009. The "January thaw" will be late, and heating costs will be at an all time high!
But, what do woolie worms know? Do you remember last winter? Last year's worms predicted a mild winter, early spring and drought for May and June.

Well, enough nonsense! It's a gorgeous day here in SE Iowa, and I'm going to get out there and enjoy it!

Thirty Seven Years Ago......

2008-08-20T17:45:00.004-05:00

We were married! Today is our 37th anniversary. It doesn't seem possible that we've been married so long, and have children so old! It's been good. Very good, in fact. I have no idea how we will be celebrating, but I'm hoping it includes a trip to Nauvoo for dinner....soon!
These pictures are from our wedding in 1971.

My mom made all the dresses except Leslie's. Leslie's mom, Bonnie made the dress for Leslie. Mom also made the veil, and I believe the little flower girls hat too. It was a beautiful wedding on the hottest and most humid day of the whole decade! Still, none of the wedding party fainted, and the church didn't even have air conditioning!

Well, one mystery is solved. Dennis just called from his cell phone. He is mowing around our fields, and I can see him. In fact, I was watching him stop and use the phone when the house phone rang. But, I digress. Anyway, he called to say that it's taco night at Papa's, and if I didn't have anything already fixed for supper, we could go meet Travis and his family for tacos. Well, of course, I don't have anything fixed....because I've been working on this blog, so Wooo-Hooo! We're going out to eat. I'm STILL hoping to be taken to Nauvoo Hotel though. Soon!

'Twas the Night Before School Starts...

2008-08-19T23:31:00.004-05:00

Too soon will be dawn, with bus drivers rolling hither and yon. Picking up children, Oh what a joy....We'll greet them all warmly, each girl and each boy.
Man! It's WAAAAYYYYY past bedtime, and I believe I'm getting silly!
To celebrate the last full day of summer vacation, the grandsons and I went fishing. Today it was Zach's turn to catch the big one. I was tying a knot for Wyatt when Zach starting calling for help! By the time I was able to get to him, he had it reeled in and on shore. How exciting!

Terrific Tuesday!

2008-08-12T17:45:00.004-05:00

Today I worked on my digital scrap booking project. It seems that I'm constantly learning something new about the program. Today I made a page showing Emma playing Frisbee with Gariann. I was very pleased with the way it turned out.

Also, today, Zach and Wyatt were here. We went fishing, helped Travis for a little while, and of course, played with the goats. We caught a few nice fish, but the big ones got away! The picture took forever to upload, because I forgot to resize it! So, if you click on it to get a better look, be prepared to wait a minute or two. It's a big file.

Next week, we go back to school. This is my last week of "summer vacation". Boooo hoooo.....

Sweet Corn Sunday!

2008-08-04T16:30:00.006-05:00

Well, that should have been the title for yesterday's post, but since I didn't get it done yesterday I decided to call it that anyway. Sunday morning (before church) Dad, Lynn, Gariann and Kirk went and picked 100 dozen ears of corn. Yes, they picked one hundred dozen. I think maybe that was just about 8 or 10 rows from Dad's garden. They'd picked 80 dozen the day before for Jake and Melissa, but I digress.
Aunt Neet, Dad's sister, was here visiting for a few days and she fixed dinner for our whole tribe.
After that delicious Sunday dinner, we started our corn processing plan.

We had a shucking crew, and a cutting team, and Gariann was our cook.

It was quite a smooth operation, and when we were done, we had over 225 pints of corn in the freezer.

Not bad for an afternoon and evening of fun. It really was fun too. Working together always makes it fun, except for poor Gariann. She was in the kitchen cooking and cooling corn all by herself. She missed out on a lot of laughs.

It's hard to believe that in just two weeks from today, I'll be back to school. Actually, I won't be driving until Wednesday, August 20th, but we have meetings to attend Monday and Tuesday, so I figure that's when my summer vacation ends.

Dennis will be going back for a checkup Friday. They'll x-ray his new knee and then we're hoping that they'll say he can start therapy and get rid of the brace.

There's so much more I could write if only I could remember! We really had a great vacation, and maybe when I have more time, I'll post a few photos from camp. Right now, I have yet to unpack and do laundry!

Happy Birthday Gariann!

2008-07-14T07:42:00.006-05:00

Today is Gariann's birthday, and I can only say that she's not as old as me...YET!

Aaron, Gariann's grandson, is growing and as impossible as it seems, he is cuter every time we see him.

Saturday, we enjoyed good food and fun at Tom and Linda's. We took Zach and Wyatt along, and they really enjoyed getting to know their relatives. They especially enjoyed Jace and MyKelti, Tom and Linda's grandkids. They played in the pool in spite of the cold, rainy weather. The rest of us sat poolside, all bundled up, watching them.

Our little goat family is also growing. The are an endless source of entertainment. The boys love caring for them and playing with them. They're so cute, we're going to have trouble when it comes time to get rid of some. However, we will have to downsize! Here's a picture of Barney and all the kids. From left: Brownie, Tuff, Dolly, Fluffy, Barney, Pinky, and Nanny.

That's the highlights of the past month, with the exception of Dennis' knee surgery. He had the knee replaced on June 20. It's going alright, we think. I think he's doing way too much, but can't keep him down. Today, he's mowing hay. It does need put up, but I think he's taking a big risk of an injury, which would be another set back! While he's unable to drive the truck, Travis and I are taking care of the grave digging. In addition, Dennis has several people needing rock, so I've been hauling a little rock too. I have been staying fairly busy, and the summer is passing way too fast! I can't believe that it's already the middle of July! Here's the "patient" while he was still at the hospital. Let me tell you, he was not there long! He had the surgery on Thursday, and I brought him home on Monday. He says the knee replacement would have been a breeze had they not torn the patella's tendon. That was a really big setback. He is supposed to keep the leg straight, and not use the muscle until that tendon is well healed. Anyway, that catches me up on blogging!

Friday the Thirteenth!

2008-06-13T23:06:00.006-05:00

We were so sure that we would have more "kids" today, but Buttons fooled us! We were out there this morning before 8 to check on the babies and stayed nearly all day, just waiting for more to be born. Much to our surprise, Barney was the first to birth twin girls yesterday, June 12. Wyatt is a very proud goat owner! He's named his kids Pinky and Nanny. Pinky is the one with the white face and pink nose.

We're still not finished with the planting, and unfortunately, much of what was planted and growing is now underwater! The rivers are beginning to look just like '93!
We spent all day yesterday in Iowa City, getting ready for Dennis' knee replacement scheduled for June 20. That's just one week from today! We're hoping to get our hay up before the surgery. It would be nice to have it all stacked in the barn by then, but we can't seem to get more than two days in a row without rain.
There's more, but I haven't posted in so long, I really don't know where to start. So, I'll just add a "family photo". The picture isn't real clear because the camera had been in the house and was cold. That caused condensation on the lens. I learned that it's a very bad idea to take the camera from the house and start taking pictures right away.

Aaron Arrived Safely Today!

2008-05-15T21:51:00.006-05:00

Shane did a great job taking pictures and getting them posted so we could all see Aaron! Thanks Shane! For those who would love to see more, here's the website: http://www.totsites.com/tot/lilwheat

Here's a preview.

I was going to post a few more, but having some technical problems. You can check out more and get all the details at the Totsites webpage.
Congratulations to Shane and Valerie! And welcome Aaron!

'Tis the Season...

2008-05-07T06:52:00.005-05:00

Between rains and digging graves, they're starting to make some progress. Still a lot of ground under water, but the rivers are receding. Dennis plans to have his left knee replaced in June, as soon as the crops are in. Last day of school....June 2....YIPEEE!

While they guys were working Russell's ground, Dennis spotted an old friend! He traveled many a road with Dad in old "Greenie". Greenie seems to be enjoying a well deserved retirement!

Trivia question: How old is Greenie? I think I remember, but will ask Mom or Dad to be sure I'm correct. I know Greenie is older than our kids.

Happy Birthday Bobbie!

2008-04-26T15:56:00.012-05:00

I hope you aren't feeling as old as I know you are!

We've had a fun day. Zach and Wyatt came and we've been playing school. We are now having a reading time, so I have a few minutes to let you all (whoever reads this) know what school is like at Mar Susie's One Room Schoolhouse. We did math, writing and music before lunch. After lunch we had science. In our science class, we were discussing gravity, resistance and inertia. Then we had recess. For recess, we did some grass skiing. We towed Zach on skis behind the four wheeler. I'm posting the pictures this time.

He made it quite a distance, but when he hit the wet spot, the resistance was so much less that he went over backwards!
How nice that our science lesson could be experienced in such a fun way. He also learned about inertia. When the skis stuck in a rut, his body continued forward motion until he hit the ground. And of course, without gravity he could have just floated up and away into the sky! Learning can be fun!

Prom Night for KHS!

2008-04-20T07:42:00.003-05:00

And they sure had a lovely evening for it! Here's a picture of Jake and his friend, Megan.

In other news, yesterday Zach and Wyatt tried skiing behind the four wheeler. Zach was able to go quite a distance, but Wyatt just couldn't get his skis to stay together. I have no pictures to post, because I was driving the wheeler. It was fun, though, and I'm sure we'll be doing it again!

I saw (and heard) a wren this morning! That means the wonderful whippoorwills can't be far away! I just love hearing the whippoorwills!

Our goats are enjoying fresh greens these days. Two of them are very obviously carrying babies. We think the third one is too, but she's not as big around as the other two, so we think she'll be the last to kid. We expect the kids to start arriving anytime after June 24.

Well....that's it for this time. Planting season is here...I saw planters Friday down around Montrose in that light sandy soil. The seed corn was delivered last week, so as soon as it dries up enough to go, they'll be planting.

Prepare To CELEBRATE!

2008-04-16T10:22:00.002-05:00

So far, all income you have earned this year is earmarked for the taxes you will pay in 2008. April 23 has been declared TAX FREEDOM DAY 2008! Doesn't that make you feel better? I'm planning a celebration. I don't yet have a plan, but will be thinking of how to celebrate appropriately. Any suggestions or ideas?
I read an interesting fact this morning. In 1910, Tax Freedom Day was January 19th. At that time, the tax rate was 5%. Today it's over 30%. I'd like to go back to Government 1910!!! Our American slogan should be "It's MY money, and I want to KEEP it", but realistically, that will never happen. So, we'll pay our taxes, and every time we have an opportunity, we're voting for LESS government!

Already April!

2008-04-02T09:37:00.008-05:00

The first quarter of 2008 is history! Wow! Hard to believe how quickly time passes. Mom was right (as she usually is). She always told us, "the older you get, the faster time flies!" You know the old saying "time flies when you're having fun". Well, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Time flies...regardless of whether or not you're having fun!
We have had some fun recently though. One fun event was visiting with the Eversons. They'd been vacationing in Missouri, and stopped for a brief visit as they were passing through. We caught up with them at Mickelson's, where we enjoyed a great meal together. Thanks Gariann!

Over the weekend, Dennis worked not too far up the road on a track-hoe job. There had been an old barn which had burned, leaving a lot of rocks, cement foundations and debris. While Dennis was working there, Zach and Wyatt were here visiting.

We played Walkie Talkie hide and seek until lunch time, and then went over to check on Dennis' progress. While there, the boys had a great time jumping off of what looked like a cement bridge.
After a fun day of playing, the boys made pizzas for our supper. Each of them made his own, and I made one for Dennis and me. They were very good. It was one of the recipes from Zach's book, Kid's In The Kitchen.

When It's Time To Play!

2008-03-24T19:07:00.003-05:00

I remember way back when I was in about 7th grade, Miss Harness made us memorize poetry. At the time, I don't think I really cared much for it, but I can still remember much of what I memorized back then. That, in itself, could be a great lesson..."Be careful what you put in your memory bank." Or maybe..."Be sure you develop a memory bank...." But that's thoughts for another day.
Anyway, I was watching the boys this afternoon as they were having fun on the swings. The little Swing poem came to mind. I think it's a very well known poem by Robert Louis Stevenson.

The Swing

How do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it's the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,
'Till I can see so wide,
Rivers and trees and cattle and all
Over the countryside-

'Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown-
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!
-Robert Louis Stevenson

Well, here's the picture to go with the poem.

Comment Moderation Has Been Enabled.

2008-03-23T21:30:00.008-05:00

Because I've been getting "Spam" comments, I've enabled the comment moderation option. We enjoy getting comments from friends and family, but are tired of those from spammers!

What a day! We enjoyed a wonderfully delicious Easter dinner at Mom and Dad's. There were just 16 of us there today. You can easily see who was the attention getter. Isn't he a cutie!

It was snowing!!! off and on all day. Strange weather!

We enjoyed the Main Street Opry in Kahoka Saturday night with Mom, Dad, Gariann and Kirk. The show was great, and the company was great.
The food...well, it could have been better.

More Signs of Spring!

2008-03-13T17:20:00.009-05:00

I spent the time between bus routes today cleaning up the yard. I raked sticks, leaves and all the other stuff that the dogs have brought home to show us. While I was raking, I saw a bee! A honeybee!
Now, I am certainly no authority on such things, but I would think that a honeybee sighting is a very good sign of spring! I must say I got a little excited about seeing it, and then there were two! I actually saw several of them while I was raking and burning. Honeybees buzzing around in March!
I also was thinking (while I was raking and burning) that I am very thankful for a fairly small yard! Raking is more work than I'm used to doing. The burning part was fun. Oh, but I did have help. Scamba took one look at the rake, and said, "Not me!" And then he laid down right beside it, with his little sidekick, of course.

Then I started thinking, "I wonder if I should call the Sheriff and let him know I'm burning grass clippings." I decided against it. I figured, the little fires I was making were more like camp fires and I'm sure we're not required to call those in. Yet, anyway.

Signs of Spring!

2008-03-12T10:01:00.006-05:00

As I drove to school this morning, I enjoyed a spectacular sunrise, and I also noticed LOTS of redwing blackbirds on the wires, perched in tree tops and tall grasses and along the roadside. I have been seeing lots of robins for several weeks now, and also meadowlarks. What a beautiful morning today! Even though the forecast for this weekend includes possible snow, we know that spring will arrive right on time.

I hardly seems possible that within a few weeks, planting season will be upon us! Dennis and Travis have been fairly busy with grave-digging, and when they get started on the field work, I'll probably be seeing very little of Dennis! Once the crops are in, he's planning on having his left knee replaced. That will slow him down for much of the summer, which means that I will be adding a lot of the work he does to my already exhausting work load! (That's supposed to be a funny...since I hardly do anything at all most of the time anyway!)

There are some other "signs of spring" I've observed over the past few days. The kids on the bus are even more rambunctious than before. The next two weeks are what we call "four-day weeks" meaning that we have only four days of school....which also then means long weekends! This is good! Very good! By my count, there are 54 days of school left for this year. Our last school day is June 2. Do you sense that I am ready for summer vacation? I'm really not, but what I am looking forward to is balmy mornings. I look forward to warmer weather, days that I don't need to start the car a few minutes early bundled up in boots, coat and gloves. I will not be one of those complaining this summer of the insufferable heat! Humidity....maybe, but not the heat!
Well, it's such a gorgeous day, I'm going to go find something to do. One of the top jobs on my to-do list: de-poop the yard. Squeak has not yet learned that it would be much nicer for everyone if she would go take care of her business where we don't walk!

Cold, But Sunny Thursday

2008-03-06T10:03:00.004-06:00

Well, we're back. Although our service was out for less than two days, it seemed like a very long time! After spending much time with technical support, we went to bed late last night still not working. I don't know what happened during the night, but this morning, it's normal. After all she had me do, the girl assisting me by phone ended our conversation with, "well, we have no idea what the problem is, so you do a speed test three times a day for the next three days, and then we will figure out what is wrong." That's about like calling your Dr. with a real emergency need, and he says take two aspirin and call me in the morning. Grrrrrr!!! Two hours of having her extremely loud voice crackling in my ear, and with such a strong accent that I had to guess most of the time as to what she was saying, and they tell me we'll try to figure it out within three days! The girl said her name was Amie, but I thought she must have been "Mujibar's" sister! I told her I was very disappointed. Of course, she apologized for my inconvenience. What a pleasant surprise to wake up this morning and find it all working right!
Anyway....now I can post the picture of the Liverpool Legends. As I said in the previous post, we did enjoy the first half of their show. I have a video of them singing She Loves You, but because I'm taking Squeak to the vet for her next round of shots in a few minutes, I'll not try to post that!

On a lighter note, some time ago I received a book from my nephew called Wyoming Whistle Stop. I've read it a couple times, and each time I pick it up, I read the following story. If it doesn't tickle your funny bone there's something wrong with you!

It was State Fair time in Douglas, Wyoming. The cowboy was riding across the grassy field between the parking lot and the main fair grounds and the "urge" struck him like a thunder bolt. In a word he had to go. No if, ands, or buts about it.
Spying a porta pottie about midfield, he spurred his horse into a gallop and slid to a stop, bailing off with all the grace and speed of a calf roper. Now if this were a western movie, the cowboy would have dropped the reins, entered the instant outhouse, done his thing, and when he came out, the horse would have been quietly grazing a few feet away.
In reality there was a 30% chance the horse would be there and a 70% chance the cowboy would have spent the rest of the day going, "Has anybody seem my horse?"
Always one to play the odds, the cowboy entered the latrine and somehow managed to close the door, half mast his Levis and still hang onto the reins. Little did he know that chaos, not relief, was only moments away.
The parking lot was rapidly filling up with cars, and among the arrivals was Homer Farsworth, practical joker extraordinaire. As he traversed the field towards the fairground, Homer spied the horse, seemingly tethered to the outhouse.
An opportunity like this only comes along once or twice in a lifetime, and Homer made the most of the moment. Sneaking up behind the privy, Homer sprang out waving his hat in the horse's face. The horse shied with a vengeance, and the cowboy catapulted out of the outhouse like a champagne cork. The cowboy instinctively refused to let go of the reins, and was summarily drug forward with his career exposed and his reputation on the line.
"Whoa, you son-of-a-buck, Whoa!" shouted the cowboy as he tried desperately to pull up his pants with his free hand and regain his feet. Homer took pity and finally intervened, snatching the reins and calming the terrified animal.
The cowboy lay prone in the grass. The crowd that had gathered looked on in stunned silence. Finally, the cowboy regained his feet and stood there in semi-shock, his pants down around his ankles.
Homer walked over to the cowboy, who was now getting his bearing and handed him the reins.
"Dang, Andy," Homer said loudly, with a twinkle in his eye, "if you needed me to hold your horse all you needed to do was ask." A murmur of laughter spread through the crowd.
Homer placed his arm around Andy's shoulder and said, "Folks, I don't know if they award points for the outhouse slingshot event, but I'd have to give Andy here and 8.5 just for the landing!"
The crowd erupted into cheers, whistles, and clapping. Andy, getting into the spirit of the situation, clasped his hands above his head in mock appreciation. Then forgetting the location of his Levis, he bowed deeply.
The crowd went off like fireworks at the 4th of July. Peals of laughter rolled through the crowd, bouncing off the Laramie Peak and could be heard 30 miles away in Glenrock.
Andy chagrinly pulled up his pants, tucked in his shirt, and when the laughter died down, addressed the crowd, "Folds, I truly apologize if I embarrassed anyone besides myself, but if you'll excuse me, I suddenly remembered my original mission.
"Homer, hold my horse!" And with that Andy sprinted for the outhouse, followed by more cheers, whistles, and laughter---a fitting end to the beginning of the day.

That Was A Really FAST...

2008-03-04T06:16:00.002-06:00

Summer! Saturday Zach and Wyatt came over for the morning. We packed up some snacks and my scrapbook tools and went to their house for a "scrap and snack" afternoon. It was so nice out though that they decided to go outside after making just a few pages. That was good though.
Sunday the temperatures got into the 70's! Summertime! The pup and I walked our trails picking up sticks, and we played around at the small creek. Sugar Creek was full and flowing fast. It was a great day. But it passed much to quickly. Winter has returned. This morning's temperature is about 17 degrees, with wind. Brrrrrr!
I have been working on several photo story albums, and am happy to have finished five! I've uploaded the finished ones to be printed and should have them within the next couple weeks. That's been taking up most of my time, which is my "excuse" for not posting since February 20.
We did attend the Liverpool Legends concert last Saturday at the Grand Theater. The show was really good. I'd planned to post a video of the group, but we're experiencing some "technical difficulties" so I decided not to even try right now. I'm hoping things will get better quickly!
Please be patient, and check back again!
In the meantime....have a great day!

President's Day Monday...

2008-02-20T20:05:00.015-06:00

and no school! So, I went to Andalusia with Tyler, Kathy and boys for some snow ski fun!
Zach and Wyatt both were quick to learn. Zach was soon skiing down the intermediate slopes, while Wyatt stayed on the beginner hills. It was very cold, with strong winds. I don't know, and don't even want to know what the actual temperature was, let alone consider the wind chill factor! As cold as it was, the boys were not ready to quit when it was time to go. Both boys say it was the best day ever!
The pictures are posted randomly. None of them are really great pictures, but the subjects are!

Totally unrelated topic: Tonight's lunar eclipse! Thanks for the call, Heidi! At first, we had a few clouds, and I thought maybe we wouldn't get to see it at all, but it got better! I hope Zach and Wyatt got to see some of it before they went to bed. If not, I have a few mediocre pictures here.

IceCapades!

2008-02-16T13:37:00.011-06:00

What a beautiful day we've had! Zach and Wyatt stayed overnight and this morning after a big pancake breakfast, we took Squeak out for another long explore. We went to the pond first, and the boys had fun sliding on the ice. It was great fun, and I was able to catch a few really good snapshots!
After running and sliding for quite a while, they went to get their bikes.

Of course, all the while, the sun was shining and making the surface of the pond more slippery by the minute! I had fun watching the boys attempt to ride their bikes on the ice. Eventually, they figured out how to keep from crashing. Well, at least...how to keep from crashing so often. Then, they started having races. They soon lost interest in that and went out to the pasture to ride on the hills.

It was pretty icy out on the trails too, but they didn't care. We had a lot of fun, and at the same time, we got Squeak worn out. She was so tired by the time we got back to the house that she didn't even try to bite and chew on the boys any more.

Later today we plan to take Herman (the bad smelling billy goat) back to his own home. We hope that he's been here long enough to take care of the business he was brought here to do. If so, we'll be having kids in June!
The video is Wyatt riding his bike over a section of the trails in our pasture, with Squeak chasing, and Zach yelling for Squeak to come back. You'll notice, she didn't pay one bit of attention to him!

As Promised...

2008-02-10T10:25:00.000-06:00

But then, who really cares? I sometimes wonder who reads this anyway. Of course, I know there are a few regular readers, and ONE of you (you know who you are) mentioned that you've missed hearing from me. So, here's the update.

Since getting the puppy, it seems that I've been really busy. I don't know how that can be true, but it is! Of course, I do have to spend a good deal of time playing with the her and trying to teach her some manners. She's also been a good reason to get out and walk more. She loves going on our "long explores", as the boys call it. We usually walk to our back (south) property line, stopping along the way to sniff everything out. Well, not me...I don't sniff around. Squeak does that! Poor Scamba is learning to like the energetic bundle of fur, and when he's feeling a little lively himself, he even plays with her. But, she does get annoying to him, and she has learned that when he growls and bares his teeth, it's time to back off and find something else to nip at and chew up.

I've spent the past two Saturdays watching Show Choir competitions. Last week, we were at West Liberty and yesterday Keokuk. Our kids performed well at West Liberty, but they were much better at Keokuk, taking first place in the 3A division. I enjoy watching show choir, and being the bus driver means I get in free, plus I get paid to watch! What a deal!!! Can't beat that with a stick!

Zach and Wyatt have been here several times, and we have played that Fox and Geese game a few times. The boys had never played it until I taught them how, and they seem to love the game. Of course, I always start off being the fox, and I'm so slow I have to wait until the geese fall so that I can catch them. After playing one day, we came back to the house for refreshments. We were all in the kitchen, and discussing the excitement of the game. Here's a little portion of our conversation:
Me: "I'm too old and fat to play that game!"
Zach: "You're not fat!!!"
Wyatt: "Yes, she is!!!"
Zach: "Wyatt!!!"
That may not seem so funny when you read it, but it absolutely cracked me up! Of course, Zach would never purposely say anything to hurt my feelings, and apparently he thinks that Wyatt was insulting me. In truth, Wyatt would never say anything to hurt my feelings either, but he doesn't think fat is an insult. It was really funny, but maybe you just had to be there!

Another project that is taking up a lot of my time is scrapping. Not really scrap booking, but making digital scrapbooks. They're fun to do, and I like doing that better than getting all the tools and stuff out to make scrapbook pages. Making a StoryBook is much easier in my opinion! It doesn't require any "workspace", I don't have to get stuff out and put it back, and there's no clean up! Anyway, I'm working on two or three StoryBook projects. By the way, for those who MIGHT be interested, Creative Memories is making changes. They've gone to a True 12X12 size and an 8X8 size instead of the 7X7. I think we'll like the changes.

On March 1st, the Liverpool Legends will be performing at the Grand Theater. I have tickets and plan to attend. I don't know yet who will be going with me. I bought two tickets, and Dennis isn't really interested.

Well, I think that's about it...now I'm done.

A Quick "Hello!"

2008-02-09T08:48:00.000-06:00

It seems like a very long time since my last post! I will be posting something new over the weekend. It may not be exciting or interesting, but it will be something new. Right now I'm getting ready to leave for the day. I'm driving our show choir all the way to Keokuk for a day of competition! Hope they make the finals this time! Enjoy this gorgeous day!

Meet Pipsqueak!

2008-01-24T13:13:00.000-06:00

We're going to call her "Squeak". Today is her first day away from mother and the rest of the litter. Scamba is interested in her, but seems aloof.

Squeak is just 7 weeks old. She looks like a little ball of fur. We're hoping she will learn to be as good as Scamba, who is the best dog we've ever had!

Happy Birthday Mom and Dad!

2008-01-21T09:04:00.000-06:00

Surprise, surprise, surprise! We really surprised them. Kyle brought them to the party by telling them a big tall tale, and when he got them to the Ivor Fowler center, they were going to stay in the truck because they thought he was stopping in to see one of his friends!
When they realized that he'd been telling them a story, they came in to see many of their friends and family already there, waiting for them.
The party was very well attended. We tried to get everyone to sign the guest book, but are pretty sure there were a few that didn't even know it was there.
The cake was beautiful, and delicious, and gone! We ate the whole thing. Gariann's baked potato soup was a hit as well.
Mom and Dad are standing at the cake table, while we sing the "Happy Birthday" song, and I think they were saying to each other, did you know about this?
It was a fun party, and I'm sure they enjoyed it too.
We took some family group pictures of those who were there. Unfortunately, we didn't get started taking the pictures until after some of the kids had left, so we didn't get everyone in the pictures.
This is all the grandkids who were still there at the end of the day. We also took one of Mom and Dad with their kids....except for Lynn who had to work and could not be there.
Can you guess what's going through Mom's mind in this picture? I KNOW what she was thinking, but would enjoy reading your comments and guesses as to her thinking.

Well, that's my latest news, and now Dennis and I are heading to Quincy.

Meet Herman!

2008-01-16T11:44:00.000-06:00

This is the raggedy raggedy goat, with horns on his forehead and burrs on his coat!
He's not very pretty and not very neat, but you ought to see all the things he can eat!
That's from one of the nursery rhymes we used to read to our boys when they were little. Travis used to say it like this:
"Dis is the raggedy raggedy goat, with horns on his two head and burrs on his coat"
At any rate, this is Herman, and he's going to be the daddy of our "kids". We're hoping for three sets of twins....six kids. They'll be due about mid-June.
Once Herman has done what he's here to do, we'll be sending him back to his home north of Montrose. I have to say that Herman is really stinking our place up! I did not realize how horrible a Billy goat smells!

Oh, What a Beautiful Morning!

2008-01-09T11:03:00.000-06:00

Just in case you missed the beautiful sunrise this morning....

No exciting news to report here. New Years Day was very wintery. A few days later, we had a thaw, then thunderstorms which included tornado watches and heavy rain. We had two days of temperatures well over 60 degrees, and now this morning we've had a light frost. The beautiful snow that covered the ground just a few days ago is all gone, leaving puddles and mud everywhere! We're getting lots of calls from people needing rock. That's good for Mr. "ChickenHead"! (see picture in previous post) He's staying plenty busy these days.
The goats are content and seem to be doing well. They haven't been a bit of trouble yet....should I be knocking on wood? The heifers got out Monday, and I had quite a time getting them back in where they belong. They gave this old fat cow a good work-out! I think they enjoyed it.

Update: 8:32 PM. An equally beautiful sunset this evening!